Villa Farnesina in Rome

Nestled along the Tiber in the beautiful Trastevere neighborhood, Villa Farnesina is a stunning Renaissance palace adorned with frescoes by Italian masters like Raphael, Baldassare Peruzzi, and Giovanni Antonio Bazzi, known as Il Sodoma.

It’s a true gem!

A Brief History of Villa Farnesina

The Origins of Villa Farnesina

Built between 1505 and 1511 for a wealthy Sienese banker, Agostino Chigi (who was also the treasurer of Pope Julius II), Villa Farnesina is the work of architect Baldassare Peruzzi. At the time, it was one of the first Roman villas built in the “suburbs” of the capital.

To decorate his new palace, Chigi enlisted some of the greatest painters of his time: Raphael, Peruzzi (who also designed the villa), Il Sodoma, Sebastiano del Piombo, Giovanni da Udine, Giulio Romano, and Giovan Francesco Penni.

Villa Farnesina was known throughout Rome for its lavish parties and princely celebrations. Some say that guests were invited to throw gold and silver tableware into the Tiber at the end of dinner. According to legend, Chigi secretly placed nets at the bottom of the river to retrieve his precious plates .

A Change of Ownership

After Agostino Chigi’s death in 1520, the villa was abandoned. During the Sack of Rome in 1527, it was requisitioned by mercenaries—Landsknechts—who left behind graffiti still visible in some parts of the villa.

In 1580, Cardinal Alessandro Farnese acquired the palace, giving it the name it bears today. It was named “Villa Farnesina” to distinguish it from the Palazzo Farnese on the opposite bank of the Tiber. The Farnese family reportedly tasked Michelangelo with building a bridge to connect the two properties, but the project never materialized.

In the 18^th century, the villa passed to the Spanish Bourbons and later to the Kingdom of the Two Sicilies. In the 19^th century, it was acquired by the Spanish ambassador Bermudez de Castro di Ripalta.

Villa Farnesina Today

In the 1920s, the Italian government acquired the villa. It is now partially open to the public and houses the headquarters of the Accademia dei Lincei, the oldest scientific academy in Europe (previously located in the Palazzo Altemps).

Visiting Villa Farnesina

The Exterior of the Villa

The villa’s facade, with its loggia—a covered balcony enclosed on the sides—and Tuscan pillars, was quite unusual for its time. The building is U-shaped, with two small wings flanking the main structure.

The Ground Floor

The Loggia of Galatea – Named after the fresco by Raphael painted in 1613, depicting the Triumph of Galatea. According to the myth, Galatea, in love with the shepherd Acis, rejected the cyclops Polyphemus, who killed her lover in revenge. Agostino Chigi’s horoscope, painted on the loggia’s ceiling, is the work of Baldassare Peruzzi. Other mythological scenes in the room were created by Sebastiano del Piombo.

The Loggia of Cupid and Psyche – Adjacent to the Loggia of Galatea, this loggia takes its name from a fresco by Raphael and his disciples. It tells the story of Psyche and is believed to reference Francesca Ordeaschi, Chigi’s mistress and later wife. The loggia also features works by Giovanni da Udine.

The Frieze Room – This room is named for the frieze surrounding the upper walls, painted by Peruzzi in 1508. It depicts several mythological scenes, including the labors of Hercules.

The First Floor

The Hall of Perspectives – Decorated by Baldassare Peruzzi in 1519, this room features urban and pastoral scenes punctuated by trompe-l’oeil columns. Be sure to see the frieze with mythological scenes and the fireplace with its fresco of Vulcan.

The Hall of the Marriage of Alexander and Roxanne – Originally Agostino Chigi’s bedroom, this room gets its name from the large fresco on the north wall by Giovanni Antonio Bazzi, known as Il Sodoma.

The Gardens of Villa Farnesina

Before you leave, take a stroll through the villa’s beautiful Italian gardens—a true oasis of tranquility in the heart of Rome.

Practical Information

Getting to Villa Farnesina

Located in the Trastevere district, Villa Farnesina is easily accessible on foot, by bus (lines 23 and 280), or by tram (line 8).

Opening Hours

The villa is open from 9 AM to 2 PM, Monday to Saturday (last entry at 1:15 PM), and from 9 AM to 5 PM (last entry at 4:15 PM) on the second Sunday of each month.

Admission Prices

Tickets are priced as follows:

• Visitors aged 18 to 65: €12
• Visitors over 65: €10
• Visitors aged 10 to 18 and students: €7
• Children under 10: free

The audio guide (Italian, English, or French) costs €3.

If your budget allows, consider taking a guided tour of Villa Farnesina and Trastevere. For more information, click here.

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