ÌìÃÀ´«Ã½

Join distingushed author on garden history, , on a journey to Italy, to discover the villas, gardens and landscapes of Venice, the Veneto and northern Italy through the lens of art history.

Our starting point will be the architecture of Andrea Palladio and the villas and gardens of the Veneto. Palladianism became one of the most influential architectural styles of the later sixteenth century, shaping ideas of classical order, country living and the relationship between house, garden and landscape. We will explore these sites not only as gardens, but as works of art: carefully designed environments in which architecture, painting, sculpture, water features, planting and landscape were brought together to create meaning.

A particular focus will be the Villa Barbaro, where the classical nymphaeum will be decoded through its mythological figures and wider iconographic scheme. Through close visual analysis, we will consider how garden architecture, fresco, sculpture and classical mythology worked together to express ideas of beauty, learning, status and cultivated taste.

The course will also look beyond the Veneto to the gardens of the Italian Lakes, including Isola Bella and Isola Madre, the celebrated islands of the Borromeo family. Other highlights will include the Renaissance detailing of Villa d’Este and Villa Cicogna Mozzoni, with its fishponds, frescoes and imagery drawn from Ovid’s Metamorphoses.

Richly illustrated throughout, this course is ideal for new ÌìÃÀ´«Ã½ interested in the history of art, Italian architecture, garden history, classical mythology and the cultural landscapes of northern Italy. No previous knowledge is needed, only curiosity and a desire to discover some of Italy’s most fascinating historic gardens.

Term dates

•  Autumn/Michaelmas Term: week beginning 12 October 2026 until week ending 18 December 2026

Any questions?

For content enquiries: Contact the Programme Manager, Dr Michael Paraskos, at m.paraskos@imperial.ac.uk

For enrolment and booking enquiries: Contact Christian Jacobi at c.jacobi@imperial.ac.uk

Class recordings

These classes are not recorded.

Imperial certificates

There are no examinations or assessments for this course. However, attendance can lead to the award of an Imperial attendance certificate (T&Cs apply).