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Villa Farnese, in Caprarola in the province of Viterbo, is one of the best examples of a Mannerist-era abode. It was built for the Farnese family in 1547, entrusting architect Jacopo Barozzi da Vignola, who preserved the pentagonal plan of the original fortification but transformed the whole building into an impressive Renaissance palace, surrounded by a deep moat. In the latter, the great cornering rampart – a symbol of the great military power – are still visible.

THE VILLA

A rounded courtyard sits at the centre of the pentagonal structure of the villa. Inside, we can find summer and winter areas, respectively facing North and West. The basements housed the entrances to coaches and carriages, the kitchens, warehouses and servant quarters. Right there we can see the “Scala del Cartoccio”, a spiral staircase leading to the very roof.
The mezzanine floor features some beautifully frescoed rooms, and right above it sits the “noble’s floor”, divided into two apartments for summer and winter. In the latter, there are also the cardinal’s bedroom, also known as “the bedroom of the aurora”, and the room of celebrities, also known as “the room of the Farnese glories” – its frescoes tell the long, ancient history of the family. The room of the globe is also one of the most fascinating, with the Zodiac depicted in the vault of the ceiling.

THE GARDEN

The garden is divided into the “Lower Gardens” and “Upper Gardens”, intended to represent a synthesis between nature and architecture, making perfect use of the hill springs which feed the fountains.
The “Giardini Bassi” (“Lower Gardens”) or “Giardini Segreti” (“Secret Gardens”) were created excavating the hill and following a square shape to form small parterres. The axes of the two secret gardens fan out from the north-east and south-west façades and, through drawbridges, end in the “Satyrs” and “Venus rising from the sea” fountains.
The avenue behind the building was paved and planted with trees so that visitors could enjoy the woods, the flowers and the plants, neatly organized among the waterworks.
The “Giardini di sopra” follow the slope of the hill marked by fountains.

This post is also available in: Italiano (Italian)