Page 266 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - Rome

264  ROME AREA B Y AREA

3 Villa Giulia

Built as a country retreat for Pope Julius III, this villa was designed for
entertaining rather than as a permanent home. It once housed an impressive
collection of statues – 160 boatloads were sent to the Vatican after the pope
died in 1555. The villa, gardens, pavilions, and fountains were designed by
exceptional architects: Vignola (designer of the Gesù), Vasari, and the
sculptor Ammannati. Michelangelo also contributed. The villa’s
main features are its facade, the courtyard and garden, and the
nymphaeum. Since 1889 Villa Giulia has housed the Museo
Nazionale Etrusco, with its outstanding collection of
pre-Roman antiquities from central Italy.

14
15
16
. Ficoroni Cist
Engraved and beautifully 17
illustrated, this fine bronze
marriage coffer dates from 18
the 4th century BC.
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20 22
21

. Sarcophagus of the Spouses
This 6th-century BC masterpiece, from Cerveteri,
shows a dead couple at the eternal banquet. 13b
13a
Museum Guide
This is the most important Etruscan 12
museum in Italy, housing artifacts from
most of the major excavations in Tuscany 11
Votive Offering and Lazio. Rooms 1–13b and 30–40 10
The religious Etruscans made are arranged by site and include Vulci,
artifacts, such as this model of a boy Todi, Veio, and Cerveteri, while private 9
feeding a bird, in their gods’ honor. collections are in rooms 14–24.
6
5
1550 Work Late 1700s First large-scale studies 7 4
begins on Villa 1655 Queen of Etruscan artifacts
Giulia under Christina of Sweden 8 3
Pope Julius III stays in villa as 1889 Etruscan 1919 Castellani private
Vatican guest museum founded collection donated to museum
2
1550 1650 1750 1850 1950 2050
Late 1500s First chance 1908 Barberini private 2012 Museum expands
finds of Etruscan collection bought with opening of nearby
artifacts raise some by the state Villa Poniatowski
scholastic interest
Corner decoration of bronze 1972 Pesciotti private
1555 Villa completed chariot used to burn incense collection bought by the state

US_264-265_EW_Rome_US.indd 264 15/03/17 4:21 pm
Eyewitness Travel LAYERS PRINTED:
Starsight template “UK” LAYER
(Source v1.9)
Date 28th August 2012
Size 125mm x 217mm