Villa Medici, Renaissance villa on Pincian Hill, Rome, Italy.
Villa Medici is a 16th-century residence on the Pincio Hill in Rome that serves as the seat of the French Academy. The rectangular garden is divided into sixteen flowerbeds with hedges, ancient sculptures, and fountains distributed among the plantings.
Cardinal Ferdinando de' Medici acquired the property in 1576 and had the facades decorated with Roman reliefs and statues. Napoleon transferred the French Academy here from Paris in 1803, where it has remained ever since.
The French Academy has hosted fellows in art, music, and literature since 1803, who live and work in the historic rooms for one to two years. Visitors can see the work of current residents during public exhibitions and understand how the building functions as a living cultural site.
Guided tours show the gardens, exhibition rooms, and inner courtyards at set times, usually on weekends. Access to the terrace offers a view over the city and the surroundings of the Pincio.
The inner facade facing the garden shows rich decoration with garlands, masks, and embedded ancient reliefs that contrasts sharply with the plain outer front. Some of the sculptures come from the Medici collections and were integrated directly into the architecture.
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