From our particular correspondent on the Villa Medici, in Rome,
“It’s a way of surprise that’s renewed each morning and confronted with the great thing about this place, there’s no such factor as weariness. » We will perceive Sam Stourdzé. Appointed director of the Villa Médicis in 2020 then renewed last year for a brand new three-year mandate, this up to date picture specialist has the prospect to direct “one of the vital stunning locations on this planet”. A Renaissance gem perched on Pincio Hill which overlooks Rome and gives an unimaginable panorama of the Everlasting Metropolis. “It’s essentially the most stunning view from Rome and that belongs to France,” smiles mischievously the previous director of the Rencontres de la Photographie d’Arles.
Constructed within the sixteenth century and residence of Cardinal Ferdinand de Medici, the palace and its seven hectares of gardens have been property of the Republic since their buy by Napoleon Bonaparte in 1803. It was on this jewel that the emperor determined to put in the French Academy in Rome, based in 1666 by Louis XIV. With the goal of sending younger artists to coach as shut as doable to the masterpieces of Renaissance Italy.
Debussy, Berlioz and the Goncourt prizes as residents
Centuries later, it’s nonetheless the central mission of the Villa Medici, its Italian identify. “It’s an important residence for artists, researchers and creators,” underlines the director of the premises. An emblem of the affect of French tradition which welcomes annually into its setting 80 residents chosen by a jury, together with 16 in residence for a yr. Among the many fortunate ones who took benefit of this setting conducive to inspiration, we are able to cite former Goncourt Prize winners like Marie Ndiaye and Laurent Mauvignier or the well-known composers Claude Debussy or Hector Berlioz.
“The place has additionally opened up through the years to different nationalities, to different disciplines and to different audiences reminiscent of highschool college students from skilled sectors,” signifies Sam Stourdzé. Openness was not the first high quality of the place for a very long time. What earned the villa numerous criticisms and controversiesmany judging that it lived in isolation, closed off from the surface and solely frequented by the completely happy few hand-picked. “As a result of its geographical location and its austere facade, it’s true that the place appears just a little closed but it surely has opened up broadly,” underlines its director.
“It’s really astonishingly stunning.”
For round fifteen years, guided excursions have been supplied to find its historical sculptures, its spiral staircase and its spectacular view of Rome from the belvedere. But additionally its majestic facade overlooking gardens populated with pine timber, citrus fruits of every kind and a dozen peacocks taking it straightforward across the obelisk and the fountain. “It’s really astonishingly stunning,” exclaims Thierry, initially from Nancy, who’s discovering the villa for the primary time. It wasn’t initially deliberate in our Rome sightseeing program but it surely’s undoubtedly definitely worth the detour. »
Similar surprise for Arthur, a highschool scholar from Hauts-de-France welcomed in Could as part of the Pro Residence programwho has by no means seen such an “superior” place in his life. “We actually really feel like we’re in a timeless bubble and we’re amazed by it,” says {the teenager}, clearly in no hurry to go away the enchanting villa.
A refusal to fall into overtourism
Since taking workplace, Sam Stourdzé has labored to open this Palace of the Republic to as many individuals as doable. “We welcomed 150,000 guests final yr, a determine which has doubled in 4 years,” says the director of the Villa Medici, refusing nonetheless to provide in. to the sirens of overtourism. “Visits are solely carried out in small teams to protect the calm of the place,” he explains. We will additional enhance the quantity with a restrict set at 200,000 guests however that is nothing comparable with the thousands and thousands of vacationers on the Colosseum or at the Vatican. »
Additionally be aware that to actually take pleasure in this gem within the coronary heart of Rome, it’s also doable to remain in six visitor rooms which have simply been refurbished by architects and designers.
