Villa Giustiniani Odescalchi, Renaissance villa and museum in Bassano Romano, Italy.
Villa Giustiniani Odescalchi is a Renaissance manor house in Bassano Romano that functions as a museum and contains several wings with different room types. The principal floor displays monochrome frescoes and elaborately decorated reception halls with artistic details covering the ceilings and walls.
The manor house was built in the late 16th century by the Anguillara family and came into the possession of Giuseppe Giustiniani in 1595, who transformed it into a grand estate. This change marked the start of a new chapter in the building's history under the leadership of an influential family.
The rooms display intricate frescoes by artists from the Zuccari school, depicting mythological scenes and allegorical representations of the seasons on the walls. These artistic works reflect the tastes of a wealthy family that valued education and art collecting.
The museum opens on Saturday mornings and offers guided tours through the historical rooms and art collections. Visitors should plan ahead since opening times are limited and tours may need to be booked in advance.
The Hall of Parnassus contains artistic representations that connect the Giustiniani family origins to Genoa and the island of Chios. This connection shows how a wealthy family honored its distant roots in room decoration and told its own story through art.
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