Villa Lante al Gianicolo, Renaissance villa on Janiculum Hill, Rome, Italy
Villa Lante al Gianicolo is a Renaissance villa situated on Janiculum Hill in Rome, featuring Tuscan columns, Ionic pilasters, and a reception hall that opens toward the city. The main hall commands views across Rome from its elevated hilltop setting.
Built between 1518 and 1525 for Baldassarre Turini, a papal official, the villa was designed by Giulio Romano following the death of his master Raphael. Romano's work here marked an important moment in the transition of architectural leadership during the Renaissance.
The interior displays frescoes by Vincenzo Tamagni portraying Raphael-inspired works alongside stucco decorations created by Giovanni da Udine. These embellishments reflect the artistic refinement that shaped the villa's spaces during the Renaissance period.
The property now serves as home to both the Institutum Romanum Finlandiae and the Embassy of Finland to the Holy See, operating as Finnish state property since 1950. Before planning a visit, check whether access is available, as the building remains in active official use.
Carved into the loggia is an epigram by the Roman poet Martial, who once lived on this site. The inscription describes the view of Rome's seven hills, linking ancient literary history to the Renaissance structure.
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