Villa Medici and French Art School Guided Tour

About this experience

The Villa Medici and French Art School Guided Tour is a guided tour of Villa Medici in Rome, the 16th-century hilltop villa on the Pincian Hill that has housed the French Academy in Rome since 1725. Built for Cardinal Ricci di Montepulciano and later acquired by Cardinal Ferdinando de' Medici, the villa is one of the finest examples of Mannerist architecture in the city, with a facade decorated with ancient Roman reliefs and a formal garden laid out in the Italian Renaissance style. The tour takes in the villa's historic rooms, including the Cardinal's apartments, and moves through the courtyards and gardens, where ancient sculptures, fountains, and clipped hedges frame views across Rome. Guides cover the villa's history as a Medici residence, its role as the seat of the French Academy, and the artistic legacy of the Prix de Rome laureates who lived and worked here. Tickets include guided access to areas not open during standard visits, with tours conducted in small groups. Check the available schedule at booking for language options and departure times.

Highlights

• Step inside Villa Medici, a Renaissance landmark that still functions as an elite art academy.
• Perched on the Pincian Hill, it sits right above the Villa Borghese gardens, sharing the same cultural landscape as Rome’s most famous museum district.
• Walk through artist studios, frescoed interiors and landscaped French gardens overlooking Rome.
• Learn how generations of artists trained here, shaping Europe’s artistic movements over centuries.
• Enjoy a guided experience that reveals hidden stories behind one of Rome’s most exclusive villas.

What is included

• Guided tour of Villa Medici
• Access to historic rooms
• Access to courtyards
• Access to gardens

Not included

• Transfers
• Meals

Cancellation terms

These tickets cannot be cancelled or rescheduled.