Villa Farnesina

Located in the central district of Trastevere, the Villa Farnesina may not look like much from the back. But the lucky traveler is the one who gives the building a chance and heads inside. This villa was built in 1508 by Agostino Chigi.

Visitors to the villa will experience frescoes completed by Baldassarre Peruzzi, Sebastiano del Piombo, and Raphael. When visiting the villa, make sure to see the Triumph of Galatea by Raphael which is a painting of the sea nymph Galatea one of the fifty daughters of the god Nereus. Visitors to the villa will also get to see the Loggia of Cupid and Psyche. The model used in this piece on the left was the mistress of Agostino Chigi.

Visitors to the villa will be enticed by the formal gardens still adorning the front of the mansion. During the Renaissance time period, parties and plays were held here.

I have spent my time here living in Trastevere and visitors to the villa will be pleased with the small bars and trattorias lining the streets. A trip to the Villa Farnesina is a must-see for fresco lovers.

This information can be found in the 2007 Eyewitness Guide to Rome published by Dorling Kindersley. Additional information can be found here http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Villa_Farnesina.