Editing Pope Julius III (section)

===Artistic endeavors===
[[File:Villa Giulia (Roma) 2.jpg|thumb|Villa Giulia (Roma)]]
The pope's lack of interest in political or ecclesiastical affairs caused dismay among his contemporaries. When his efforts at church reform proved ineffective, Julius III focused his attentions instead on artistic and architectural commissions as well as his lavish Villa Giulia.<ref>[https://www.italianartsociety.org/2016/09/giovanni-maria-ciocchi-del-monte-better-known-as-pope-julius-iii-was-born-10-september-1487-in-monte-san-savino-outside-of-arezzo/ Culotta, Alexis. "This Day in History: September 10", Italian Art Society]</ref> He spent the bulk of his time, and a great deal of papal money, on entertainments at the [[Villa Giulia]], created for him by [[Giacomo Barozzi da Vignola|Vignola]]. [[Bartolomeo Ammannati]] designed a number of garden features under the general direction of [[Giorgio Vasari]],<ref>{{EB1911|inline=1|wstitle=Ammanati, Bartolomeo|volume=1|page=859}}</ref> with guidance from the knowledgeable pope and [[Michelangelo]], who worked there. Today the Villa Giulia houses the [[National Etruscan Museum]], a collection of Etruscan art and artifacts. 

More significant and lasting was his patronage of the great Renaissance composer [[Giovanni Pierluigi da Palestrina]], whom he brought to Rome as his ''[[Kapellmeister|maestro di cappella]]''.