Designed by Raphael for Cardinal Giulio de Medici (then Clemens VII), the villa is at the lower slopes of Monte Mario on the west bank of the Tiber. For the villa he planned a segmental columned garden court with the aim to imitate the majestic Roman baths. When Raphael died the work was completed by Antonio da Sangallo il Giovane who changed it and never finished it. The decorations inside the three bay loggia are by Giovanni da Udine and Giulio Romano. The villa passed to "madama" Margherita di Parma, illegitimate daughter of Charles V and the wife of Alessandro de Medici. In 1735 the villa passed into the Borbone family of Naples and the Dentice family of Frasso. It was then bought by the Italian state.