Raphael at night? Cowabunga!
The Villa Farnesina, long known for its Raphael frescoes and bizarre hours, is now open on Thursday evenings! Once a week, from 7:30-9pm the doors of this Renaissance villa in Trastevere will be open to those who have never quite managed to make it on weekday mornings at 9 (seriously?). As an added bonus, they are offering a guided tour at 8pm (reservation mandatory), to be followed by an aperitivo in the garden. The villa was originally built for Agostino Chigi, papal treasurer and prolific Renaissance patron, in the early 16th Century, but was acquired by the Farnese family in 1577, giving it the Farnesina name. The design is the work of Baldassarre Peruzzi, a student of Bramante, and in addition to Raphael, features frescoes by Sebastiano del Piombo, Giulio Romano, and Il Sodoma.
What: Raphael’s frescoes in Villa Farnesina
Where: Villa Farnesina, Via della Lungara 230, Trastevere
When: Thursday evenings, 7:30-9pm.
You can still visit during the regular hours M-S 9am-1pm
How much: 5 euro, but this can include a guided tour if you want!
