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The Medici Villa della Petraia in Florence
Via della Petraia 40 – Florence Phone: +39 055 452691 (for info and guided tours) http://www.visitflorence.com/what-to-see-in-florence/medici-villa-petraia.htmlAbout
AddressVia della Petraia 40 – FlorencePhone+39 055 452691 (for info and guided tours)Opening hours/day of closureOpen every day of the week January, February, November, December: 8:15am – 4:30 pm March: 8:15am – 5:30pm April, May, September, October: 8:15am – 6:30pm June, July, August: 8:15am - 7:30pm Closed the first and the third Monday of every month, for Christmas, New Year’s day and May 1st. How to get thereATAF Bus #2 or #28 from SMN, stop "Sestese 03"Ticketfree entry The inside of the Villa can be visited with a guide every hour starting at 8:30am – only large groups are requested to book their visit ahead of time. The Medici Villa della Petraia is an impressive country residence built on a panoramic terrace in the outskirts of Florence in the small hamlet of Castello. From its position, you can have a beautiful view over its rich Italian garden and the valley where the famous Renaissance city is located on. The building was originally bought by the Brunelleschi family, who later sold it to Palla Strozzi in 1422. In first half of the XVI century, the villa passed to the Salutati family. This one transferred the property to the Medici family. In this time, the Cardinal Ferdinando, who was nominated Grand Duke in 1587, carried out a radical transformation of the villa, turning the villa from a mansion into a princely residence. The project was accomplished by building around the fourteenth century central tower, but the most significant changes were actually carried out in the surrounding park. First, it was divided into three magnificent terraces: the first one was dedicated to the placement of dwarf fruits, the second one adorned by flower beds while the third one was designed with two elliptical areas where many general and citrus trees were planted. Today, we can admire what the garden must have looked at that time by observing the depictions painted by Giusto Utens in the series called “villa in a lunette” dated 1599/1602. A walk in the park during the spring time is the best time to visit, time at which you might even find a wedding photo shoots taking place ..very popular location for photographer like me! The garden statues (the first is the Venus by Giambologna) add adornment to Petraia’s majesty, but the nineteenth century tower and the sundial which marks the season in a very old style are also very interesting to visit and see. Inside the Villa The Villa della Petraia has always been used as a residence, hosting illustrious personalities of the Medici family (Don Lorenzo, Cosimo III), the Lorraines (Leopold II) and, finally, the Savoys, Italy's royal family (Vittorio Emanuele II and his wife, Rosa Vercelliana). The last hosts of the villa carried the last changed to the villa, decorating it with precious furniture and creating the splendid covered courtyard you find as you enter the villa that became the ballroom. The ballroom's perimeter is completely decorated by frescoes carried out by Cosimo Gaddi during the Lorraine period and by Volterrano who painted scenes that told of the various exploits of the Medici family. The remaining rooms, each of various sizes and with different style of furnishings, offered to me and to visitors pleasant surprises such as the music room where still today there is a precious piano harmonium built in Naples in 1868. Its walls are enriched with tapestries that form the backdrop for an ancient bronze clock which has marked the passing of time since 1770! Another room I make a special note about is the large, red dining room adorned with beautiful tapestries in an XVII century Flemish style. So while you're in the center of Florence, I highly recommend you take the time to get out of the center and and visit this gem not many are even aware of exists today and is open to the public.... free of charge!
