Villa Farnesina: The Luxury Retreat of a Bank-man

The wedding of Psiche and Love, by Raphael, in Villa Farnesina, credit Nicolas Vollmer, by Flickr.com

If you are searching for a beautiful museum to visit on Monday morning, when all the others are closed to the public, I recommend Villa Farnesina.

The villa was built in 1506-1520 by Agostino Chigi, a wealthy bank man from Siena who financed many popes. Being so close to the Papacy, he could choose the most important painter of its time, Raphael, to decorate his new residence, as he was working in the Vatican Papal Apartments,  Raphael's Rooms.

The result were the stories of Love and Psyche and the amazing Galatea.

The choice of these mythological stories is not random, but it depends on the biography of the commissioner, Agostino Chigi. 

Galatea, by Raphael in Villa Farnesina, credit to mykaul through Flickr.com

Loggia of Love and Psyche credit to Charlie Dave through Flickr.com

The 'Galatea' is an allegory of the aristocratic Margherita Gonzaga, which didn't accept the advances of Agostino, which was not noble.
Therefore in Raphael's painting, Galatea, symbolizing Margherita, is escaping far from the ugly giant Polyphemus, painted by Sebastiano del Piombo, which depicts Agostino. Anyway, the bankman didn't lose too much time with the spoiled Margherita and found the love of his life in Venice.

In the central loggia overlooking the gardens, the paintings about 'Love and Psyche' represent the love and wedding between the bank-man and a poor young Venetian lady, Francesca. 

Other famous masters worked in the villa, the Venetian Sebastiano del Piombo and the Sienese Baldassare Peruzzi, which was also the architect of the villa, and painted a gorgeous ceiling representing the fortunate day of the birth of Agostino Chigi through astrological figures and Sodoma which decorated Agostino and Francesca's bedroom.

The Villa which at the beginning was named Chigi, was later purchased by the Farnese family and this is why it is still named 'Farnesina'.

Villa Chigi, called Farnesina, credit to Charlie Dave through Flickr.com

Tips: The villa stands in a beautiful district, Trastevere, on the right bank of the Tiber river. This is a gourmet district where you can find many places to eat or have a gelato. 
There is a baroque collection in front of Villa Farnesina, Palazzo Corsini. Just behind Palazzo Corsini, you can find an oasis of peace and relaxation in the botanical gardens' green.
Consider that Villa Farnesina is open from Monday to Sunday from 9 to 2 pm. It is usually closed on Sunday, except on the second Sunday of the month when it is open from 9 to 5 pm.

If you need any further information, contact me through http://www.mylovelyrome.com