Renaissance Pleasure Palaces

The Renaissance witnessed the revival of the ancient Roman tradition of building suburban villas for pleasure and delight. These palaces, owned by the rich & famous became hedonist hubs—veritable Renaissance Playboy mansions. Two of the most beautiful and best preserved of these villas are Rome’s Villa Farnesina along the Tiber and Mantua’s dazzling Palazzo del Te. Each houses exceptional and fanciful works of art: testimony to the libidinous appetites of their patrons and the opulent revelry that arose within them. Learn the history of the artists and patrons while viewing, close-up, stunning cultural treasures.