View of the Garden of the Grand Duke of Tuscany on the Pincian Hill

The Pincian Hill was called the Hill of Gardens in antiquity because of the many sumptuous gardens maintained there by wealthy Romans. The Villa Medici occupies the site of one of these. Cardinal Ferdinando de' Medici purchased the property in 1576 and proceeded to make elaborate improvements to the house and gardens in order to accommodate his extensive collection of antiquities. Reliefs were applied to the main garden facade, and statues are displayed along the gallery and loggia that stretch across the garden. In the prospect at the end of the main alley an arched gate can be seen which allowed public access to the garden.