Casina Pio IV, Renaissance building in Vatican Gardens, Vatican City
The Casina Pio IV features an elliptical courtyard with a marble fountain containing two cherubs riding dolphins, sculpted by Jacopo da Casignola and Giovanni da Sant'Agata.
Construction began in 1558 under Pope Paul IV as Casina del Boschetto, but Pope Pius IV commissioned architect Pirro Ligorio to enhance the design until completion in 1562.
The interior walls display frescoes by Federico Barocci, Federico Zuccari, and Santi di Tito, depicting religious scenes from Genesis and the life of Jesus Christ.
The building currently functions as the headquarters for the Pontifical Academy of Sciences, the Pontifical Academy of Social Sciences, and the Pontifical Academy of St. Thomas Aquinas.
The Museum loggia contains a specific arrangement of Muses, with Calliope centered among her sisters, surrounded by zodiac signs and mythical horses of the Sun.
Location: Vatican City
Inception: 1558
Architects: Pirro Ligorio
Creator: Federico Zuccari, Federico Barocci, Leonardo Cungi, Santi di Tito, Ivan Gapić
Architectural style: mannerism
GPS coordinates: 41.90417,12.45250
Latest update: March 13, 2025 12:28
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