Disapproving nuns painted over the risqué frescoes in Rome's long-neglected Villa Silvestri Rivaldi for 300 years; restorers are now exposing them

Europe Culture Sat, 03 Oct 2026 06:30:23 GMT Moderate confidence — 73/100

For nearly three centuries, layers of plain paint and plaster hid a remarkable secret inside one of Rome’s long-neglected Renaissance villas.
Now, restorers peeling back those layers are bringing colourful scenes of gods, goddesses, soldiers and mythological figures back into view, as per a report by Smithsonian Magazine.
The rediscovered artwork is inside Villa Silvestri Rivaldi, a sprawling 16th-century residence just a short distance from Rome’s Colosseum.

For nearly three centuries, layers of plain paint and plaster hid a remarkable secret inside one of Rome’s long-neglected Renaissance villas.
Now, restorers peeling back those layers are bringing colourful scenes of gods, goddesses, soldiers and mythological figures back into view, as per a report by Smithsonian Magazine.
The rediscovered artwork is inside Villa Silvestri Rivaldi, a sprawling 16th-century residence just a short distance from Rome’s Colosseum.

Sources: Times of India