Horti Farnesiani reopen on Palatine Hill after €1.5M restoration
The Horti Farnesiani, a historic garden complex from the 16th century on Palatine Hill in Rome, has reopened following a €1.554 million restoration, which included €483,000 from the World Monuments Fund. Cardinal Alessandro Farnese commissioned the gardens around 1550 to reflect his family's power, built on the site of ancient imperial palaces. After being under Farnese control for 200 years, it became a royal farm in 1718, was purchased by Napoleon III in 1861 for archaeological purposes, and was eventually taken over by the Italian government in 1870, with Giacomo Boni leading the restoration. The reopening features an exhibition titled "Il Palatino e il suo giardino segreto," curated by Giuseppe Morganti, showcasing sculptures from the Farnese collection and a digital recreation of the garden's past.
Key facts
- Restoration cost €1,554,000, with €483,000 from World Monuments Fund
- Cardinal Alessandro Farnese commissioned the garden around 1550
- Napoleon III purchased the garden in 1861 for excavations
- Italian government acquired the garden in 1870
- Exhibition 'Il Palatino e il suo giardino segreto' runs until October 28, 2018
- Curated by Giuseppe Morganti and organized by Electa
- Two sculptures from Museo Archeologico Nazionale di Napoli returned to original site
- Digital videomapping in Ninfeo della Pioggia recreates historical garden
Entities
Artists
- Alessandro Farnese
- Pietro Rosa
- Rodolfo Lanciani
- Giacomo Boni
- Giuseppe Morganti
- Alfonsina Russo
Institutions
- World Monuments Fund
- Parco Archeologico del Colosseo
- Electa
- Museo Archeologico Nazionale di Napoli
- Napoleon III
- Italian Government
Locations
- Rome
- Italy
- Palatine Hill
- Roman Forum
- Colosseum
- Circo Massimo
- Via Nova
- Via di San Gregorio
- Ninfeo della Pioggia
- Uccelliere farnesiane
- Teatro del Fontanone