The online lecture "Mediči villas un pilis" from the series "Itālijas māksla" takes place on ZOOM live stream on 18 November 2026. It explores Tuscany as a historic land of castles and parks that inspired European rulers to build country residences. The lecture looks at the lifestyles of the Medici, Rucellai, Strozzi, Tornabuoni and Borgherini families, alongside the pleasures of resting in nature, the scent of orange blossoms, reflections in ponds, fountains and garden tricks. It also considers Florence, where the fashion for building small houses for leisure, rather than fortresses, entered European culture.