Realm of the Muses

The Realm of the Muses: The Myth of Apollo at Villa delle Peschiere.

Apollo, the god of the sun and the arts, is a recurring figure in the decorations of Villa delle Peschiere. His presence is due, on the one hand, to the fact that the Villa is designed in harmony with the surrounding landscape and the solar cycle—rising in the east and illuminating the eastern halls dedicated to daytime—and, on the other hand, to the intention of the patron, Tobia Pallavicino, to elevate his image by associating himself with the Muses. This tour explores the myth of Apollo as interpreted by the painter Giovanni Battista Castello, known as Il Bergamasco, and the celebratory significance of these decorations in the representative halls of the palace.