Daughter of Lorenzo II de' Medici (to whom Machiavelli dedicated "The Prince"), Catherine grew up in Italy before to marry the future King of France Henry II. When the king dies, the superstitious Catherine dresses in black and mourns until her death. She governed with the Guises during the minority of François II, then with Chancellor Michel de l'Hospital during that of Charles IX. Supporter of a policy of conciliation towards the Protestants, she notably granted the Edict of Amboise in 1563 and the Peace of Saint-Germain in 1570. However, her distrust of Coligny and the Protestants could have triggered the massacre of the Saint Barthelemy? The queen has long been the victim of a dark legend that is beginning to be challenged.
Palace built in the 16th century in Rome, the Villa Medici has housed the prestigious French Academy in Rome since 1803 . The latter was founded in 1666 at the instigation of Colbert, Le Brun and Le Bernin, in order to train French artists in the study of Antiquity. Being a resident there opens many