A Princely Way of Life: Villa Chigi and Palazzo Corsini

IN SHORT: Visit two historical villas: Palazzo Corsini and Villa Chigi, also known as the “Farnesina”, and learn the story of a banker surrounded by artists and courtesans, and one of Popes, cardinals and capricious queens.

IN MORE DETAIL:  The banker Agostino Chigi was the richest man in Rome during the 16th Century and his villa (later known as “Farnesina”) was frescoed by Raphael, his students and other great artists of the time. The rooms are decorated with Agostino’s personal horoscope, tales from Greek mythology, lush garlands and beautiful sceneries of unseen horizons. In short, a villa full of delights, facing the river, where the powerful Agostino invited popes, kings, leading aristocrats, artists and courtesans.
Right there, in front of the Farnesina, another noble residence can be found. Originally property of the Riario family, then leased in the 17th century to ambassadors and other VIPs of the day, among them Queen Christina of Sweden, an out-of-ordinary character who disrupted the rigid structure of religious conventions and transformed the palazzo into a first-class art academy. Then the Palazzo was passed on to the Corsini family, when Lorenzo became Pope Clement XII, called to clean up the Vatican State treasury. The pope legalized the Lotto game, the State treasury was replenished and Rome enriched its beauty with the Fountain of Trevi, a new façade for St. John’s and much more. Beauty was also kept in the home and the Corsini art collection acquired greater prestige. In the beautiful rooms of this lovely gallery we find history of sacred and pagan origin, magnificent portraits, romantic landscapes, bambocciate, delicate pastels by Rosalba Carriera, sketches by Rubens and precious still lifes, a celebration of beauty, far from the bustle of the city center.
Click here to view a slide show of the Villa Chigi: http://www.raffaellovillafarnesina.it/intro/home.html
Click here for a virtual tour of the Palazzo Pamphili Gallery: http://corsini3d.beniculturali.it/

OPZIONI: In the afternoons and on Sundays (when the Farnesina is closed), we can stay later in the Palazzo Corsini and/or visit some churches in Trastevere.