Villa Medici in Rome, Tips to Visit

Credits: Photo by Jean-Pierre Dalbéra / CC BY 2.0

Villa Medici, also known as the French Academy in Rome (Académie de France à Rome in French), is a stunning mannerist palace that dates back to the Italian High Renaissance.

The Palace of Villa Medici, which today hosts the French Academy in Rome, is located near Trinita’ dei Monti Church, on the Pincio Hill. At the end of the Roman Republic, this same area was occupied by impressive gardens known as Horti Luculliani, named after the Roman general Lucio Lucullio, who had them built between 66 – 63 B.C. The Horti Luculliani must have been spectacular! They extended on the hillside, featuring vast terraces reachable through huge staircases.

Attraction Overview

Opening Hours: 9.30am - 5.30pm

Best Time To Visit: 11.00am or 15.00pm

Tickets: Needed

Accessibility: Accessible

Kid-friendly Attraction

How to Visit

1PLAN YOUR VISIT IN ADVANCE

– Add this Attraction on your Travel List!

2CHECK IN ADVANCE THE BEST TIME VISIT

Guided tours of Villa Medici are available in English at 11.00 am or at 3.00pm and are included in the price of the Tickets. Schedule may be subject to changes. Check the events schedule online at the official website for the best time to visit http://villamedici.it/en/

3WEAR COMFORTABLE FOOTWEAR

– Summertime: sneakers, sun cream and a hat;
– Wintertime: sneakers, umbrella and raincoat

OPENING HOURS

Closed
Monday, 1 January, 1 May and 25 December

Opening Hours
From Tuesday to Sunday, 9:30 am-5:30 pm (6:30 if there is an exhibition)

Temporary Exhibitions
Tuesday to Sunday, 10:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. (last admission 6:30 p.m.)

TICKETS INFO

Tickets + Guided Tours

- Adults: 12€;
- Reduced Tickets: 6€ (Seniors (60 years +), Students, Romaeuropa Card, Roma pass, Metrebus card);
- Free for kids up to 6;

ACCESSIBILITY

Wheelchair Accessibility Service:
Villa Medici is accessible to people in wheelchair and people with walking difficulties

Phone Number:
+39 06 6761 311
Tuesday to Sunday: 9-30am-5.30pm

How to Reach

1FROM THE CITY CENTER TO VILLA MEDICI

Bus Lines:

117

Metro Station:

2FROM FIUMICINO AIRPORT TO VILLA MEDICI

– Once at Leonardo da Vinci International Airport (Fiumicino Airport) take the Leonardo Express Train to Termini Station;
– Next, at Termini take the Metro A (Orange Line) Direction Battistini for 3 stops. Get down at Spagna Metro Station.

Address:
Viale Trinità dei Monti, 1, 00187 Rome, Italy
Get directions from Google Maps

Villa Medici Rome

Villa Medici Historical Facts

The Palace of Villa Medici, which today hosts the French Academy in Rome, is located near Trinita’ dei Monti Church, on the Pincio Hill. At the end of the Roman Republic, this same area was occupied by impressive gardens known as Horti Luculliani, named after the Roman general Lucio Lucullio, who have them built between 66 – 63 B.C. The Horti Luculliani must have been spectacular! They extended on the hillside, featuring vast terraces reachable through huge staircases. Read More…

Villa Medici FAQ

Shall I need to reserve my tickets for Villa Medici in advance?

Even though Villa Medici is not as visited as other sites in Rome such as the Vatican Museums, we suggest travelers planning to visit Villa Medici to check availability for the date of their visit by phone or email.

What does the ticket to Villa Medici include?

The ticket to Villa Medici includes a group guided tour of the palace available in English, French and Italian.

What will I see during the guided tour?

The journey starts with the description of the inner facade turned towards the gardens, with the Romans’ bas-relief, the refined copies of antique statues, Giambologna’s Mercury, the contemporary sculptures and the symbols linked to the Medici’s history. The guided tour includes the visit of the Cardinal’s apartment.
The visit then proceeds through the Loggia, emblematic image of the Villa, and with the Bosco’s studio, depicted in a famous painting by Velasquez. The visit continues with the gypsotheque recently opened to the public and the fountain created by Balthus from casts of antique sculptures, the Niobides’ square. The walk ends with the discovery of the extraordinary panorama on the Eternal city from the belvedere.