Home

Visit Rome following 8 XVIIIth century itineraries XVIIIth century Rome in the 10 Books of Giuseppe Vasi - Le Magnificenze di Roma Antica e Moderna The Grand View of Rome by G. Vasi The Environs of Rome: Frascati, Tivoli, Albano and other small towns near Rome A 1781 map of Rome by G. Vasi An 1852 map of Rome by P. Letarouilly Rome seen by a 1905 armchair traveller in the paintings by Alberto Pisa The 14 historical districts of Rome An abridged history of Rome How to spend a peaceful day in Rome Baroque sculptors and their works The coats of arms of the popes in the monuments of Rome Pages on a specific pope Pages complementing the itineraries and the views by Giuseppe Vasi Walks in the Roman countryside and in other towns of Latium following Ferdinand Gregorovius A Directory of links to the Churches of Rome A Directory of links to the Palaces and Villas of Rome A Directory of links to the Other Monuments of Rome A Directory of Baroque Architects with links to their works A Directory of links to Monuments of Ancient Rome A Directory of links to Monuments of Medieval Rome A Directory of links to Monuments of Renaissance A Directory of links to Monuments of the Late Renaissance A list of the most noteworthy Roman Families Directories of fountains, obelisks, museums, etc. Books and guides used for developing this web site An illustrated Glossary of Art Terms Venice and the Levant Roman recollections in Florence A list of Italian towns shown in this web site Venetian Fortresses in Greece Vienna seen by an Italian XVIIIth century traveller A list of foreign towns shown in this web site
What's New!

Detailed Sitemap

All images © by Roberto Piperno, owner of the domain. Write to romapip@quipo.it. Text edited by Rosamie Moore.
To the Italian visitors of my web site

Giardino e Casino Pontificio nel Vaticano (Book 10) (Day 8)  (View C2) (Rione Borgo)

In this page:
 The plate by Giuseppe Vasi
 Today's view
 Casino di Pio IV
 Mosaics

The Plate (No. 182)

Giardino e Casino Pontificio nel Vaticano

Pope Pius IV was the third Medici Pope in the XVIth century, but he did not belong to the Florentine family. He was from Milan and very often he added Mediolanensis to his name. Unlike Leo X and Clemens VII he was a truly religious man, worried about limiting the damages of the Reformation. Like Leo X and Clemens VII he was a great humanist, with a wide culture. The little casino and ninfeo built for him by Pirro Ligorio in 1562 reflects these two basic aspects of his personality. The view is taken from the green dot in the small 1748 map here below. In the description below the plate Vasi made reference to: 1) Loggia with eastern granite columns; 2) Nymphaeum with statues; 3) Circular courtyard with two porticoed entrances; 4) Steps leading to the courtyard.

Small ViewSmall View

Today

The view today

The only noticeable change can be found in the ground floor mosaics which at Vasi's time were covered by statues. The image to the right was taken in 2003 from the Vatican Museums.

Casino di Pio IV

Il Casino di Pio IV

The complex structure designed by Pirro Ligorio is made up of the Casino (above), the Ninfeo (center) and an oval courtyard with fountains and statues (below). The rich decoration, the statues, the shape of the spaces are all references to the past that Pius IV and Pirro Ligorio felt would foster spiritual growth. Here the Pope spent nights with philosophers and artists discussing poetry and sacred subjects. In the background one of the statues in the courtyard.

La Palazzina di Pio IV

The decoration was still inspired by the Greek myths rediscovered during the Renaissance. A large relief shows the infant Zeus being fed by Amaltheia a she-goat representing a maiden-goddess. On the top of the building Pope Urbanus VIII added his coat of arms.

Jupiter and Amaltheia

Mosaics

Villa Pia

The buildings have a very rich and interesting decoration with many coats of arms of Pius IV, but the mosaics are simply beautiful and have some hidden reference to the pills of the Medici.

You may wish to have a stroll in the Vatican Gardens.

Excerpts from Giuseppe Vasi 1761 Itinerary related to this page:


Giardino Pontificio
Il mentovato Niccolò V. formò in questa valle un giardino per diporto e sollievo nelle gravi sue occupazioni, e Pio IV. vi aggiunse un magnifico casino, e dipoi Paolo V. lo adornò di deliziose fontane, e viali, facendovi il nobile ingresso a piè della salita.

Next plate in Book 10: Casino al Pigneto del Marchese Sacchetti
Next step in Day 8 itinerary: Casino di Belvedere