Purchased by Napoléon and today the home of the French Academy, the Villa Medici, otherwise closed to the public, stages prestigious art exhibits and music festivals, advertised on posters around its gates. The gardens are occasionally open for guided tours on Sunday mornings; call the academy directly or check with the tourist office for details. A tour here is very special, as you walk in the footsteps of Velázquez, Fragonard, and Ingres, who all worked at the academy. This is also the only way you can see the incredibly picturesque garden facade, which is studded with Mannerist and Rococo sculpted reliefs and overlooks a loggia with a beautiful fountain devoted to Mercury.
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