during the heat of the summer. This three-levelled structure of covered loggias, decorated with marble statuary, reclining river gods in niches, and balustrading, is constructed around a central fountain. Here in this cool environment, sheltered from the blazing sun, day-long picnics would be held. The central fountain, Fontana dell'Acqua Vergine, was designed and sculpted by Vasari and Ammannati: it depicts river gods and caryatids. The fountain's source, the Acqua Vergine, also supplies the Trevi Fountain in Rome. The Casino della Vigna ("little house in the vineyard"), as it was sometimes known, and its gardens were set in the midst of vineyards, which could be viewed from shaded arcades on the outsides of the garden walls. Papal parties embarked on boats at the gates of the Vatican and were transported up the Tiber to the villa's long-gone private landing stage. Later history Following Pope Julius' death, his successor Pope Paul IV confiscated all the properties he had assembled; the villa was divided, and the main building and part of the gardens became the property of the Camera apostolica. The Villa was reserved for the use of the new pope's Borromeo nephews. It was restored in 1769 on the initiative of Pope Clement XIV, confiscated by the new state of Italy in 1870, and given over to the National Etruscan Museum in the early 20th century. Gallery See also Valle Giulia The Sol Wurtzel House in Bel Air, Los Angeles, designed by Wallace Neff and modelled on the Villa Giulia References Coolidge, John. (1943) Art Bulletin 25. David R. Coffin. (1979) The Villa in the Life of Renaissance Rome External links Official website Villa Giulia Villa Giulia plan Mannerist architecture in Italy Giulia National Etruscan Museum Rome Q. III Pinciano Houses completed in 1553 Giorgio Vasari buildings