The Medici Villa La Petraia
The Medici Villa La Petraia is located in Castello on the outskirts of the historic center of Florence. The villa belonged to the Medici family and the coat of arms on the villa is yellow with six balls, five red and the highest blue with three gold lilies.
Villa La Petraia is one of the most fascinating Medici villas thanks to its lush park, the variety of styles and the stunning pictorial decorations. Cosimo I de' Medici bought the villa in 1544. Among the previous owners there are important names such as the Brunelleschi family, the merchant Palla Strozzi and the Salutati. In 1568, Ferdinando I started the renovation of the villa and the park. It continued in 1587 when, after the death of his brother Francesco, he was appointed as Grand Duke. Probably the architect was Buontalenti, but there are no historical records that prove it.
Cristina di Lorena wife of Ferdinand I, is decorating the two sides of the courtyard with a large fresco by Cosimo Daddi called "Stories of Godfrey of Bouillon in the siege of Jerusalem." In 1609 the house passed to his son Don Lorenzo who beautifies it with one of the most famous works of the seventeenth century, the Fasti Medici, painted by Volterrano. Particularly interesting is the chapel in 1682 decorated by Carlo Mulinari and the adjoining room frescoed by Rinaldo Botti and Pietro Dandini in 1696. Today the chapel is known as the Chapel of All Saints.
The squared Italian garden is characterized by a bronze fountain, the Fountain of Florence, transported by Pietro Leopoldo in 1784 from Villa di Castello to Villa La Petraia and placed on a block of marble carved by Tribolo and Pierino da Vinci. The Savoia took the house in 1859 and built a large iron and glass skylight above the central courtyard.
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A selection of our most requested villas in the area:
Luxury villa sleeping 8 a few kilometres from Gambassi Terme, in the heart of Florence countryside. Garden, swimming pool, hydromassage, Internet connection. Tennis court, riding stable and golf club nearby. Possibility of organising horseback and mountain-bike rides in the neighbourhood.
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Small villa sleeping 6 near Reggello, in Valdisieve, just a few kilometres from Florence. Swimming pool, Internet connection, air conditioning. Cooking lessons, dinners and guided tours are organised upon request.
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