Villa Farnese Caprarola palace

The Villa Farnese Palace is located in Caprarola in the province of Viterbo in Lazio.

It was built for the Farnese family and is one of the best examples of a Mannerist period residence.

The palace was one of the many stately homes built by the Farnese in their domains.

The construction of a fortified residence in Caprarola was initially entrusted by Cardinal Alessandro Farnese the Elder to Antonio da Sangallo the Younger who designed a pentagonal fortress with corner bastions.

Cardinal Alessandro the Younger, who in turn settled in Caprarola, wanted to resume his grandfather's project, so, in 1547, he entrusted the construction site to Vignola, but the work only resumed in 1559.

In place of the corner bastions, the architect inserted large terraces open to the surrounding countryside, while a two-storey circular courtyard was created in the center of the residence, with the top slightly set back.

The "Farnese Gardens" are annexed to the villa, a splendid example of a late Renaissance garden, created through a system of terraces behind the house, perched on the hill.