Raphael’s Rome, in a quieter room
A Renaissance villa in Trastevere, where Raphael’s frescoes reward an unhurried gaze.
A quieter way into Raphael’s Rome.
Step inside Villa Farnesina for a winter morning of frescoes, mythology and Renaissance detail. Intimate and richly decorated, it offers a more personal encounter with Rome's artistic heritage, away from the city's larger museums and crowds.
One of Rome’s most graceful detours.
Built for the banker Agostino Chigi, Villa Farnesina feels wonderfully intimate beside Rome's grander museums. Its rooms are filled with frescoes, mythology and a sense of private splendour that has survived for five centuries. On a winter morning, the villa has a calm that makes it easy to linger.
Raphael, without the rush.
The Loggia of Cupid and Psyche is reason enough to come. Look up and take your time with the painted fruit, flowers and figures, allowing the detail to emerge gradually. The frescoes reward a slower gaze, particularly when the rooms are quiet.
Trastevere, before the evening begins.
Afterwards, walk along the river or find a table for lunch before the neighbourhood gathers pace. It is a gentler side of one of Rome's liveliest districts, and a fitting way to continue a morning spent looking closely.
