The relation between nobles and their lands in Tuscany
Today during your holiday in Tuscany you can admire the beautiful villas with large portions of land surrounded by breathtaking views. But how does private property change over the centuries? What was the link between nobles, the land and the villas?
In the Middle Ages life was lived in the castle and its massive walls had mainly the task of protecting the sovereign and the inhabitants of the castle from the enemy attacks. The king had all the powers and could administer justice, impose taxes and prohibit behaviors or actions. The castle generally stood on a hill and dominated the surrounding land. It was not hospitable, it was often bleak and intimidating to those who saw it from afar.
After the Feudalism the lands were divided and citizens enriched by the markets start to buy, expand and administered their country residences. Each farm has a house of the Lord, barn, a warehouse for food, usually an oil mill and a wine cellars. The land becomes a valuable asset and is cultivated with orchards, olive groves, vineyards and wooded parts. The figure of the sharecropper who manages the land becomes crucial. The lord, owner of the estate, realizes the economic value of agricultural activities and also beautifies his home with renovations, paintings and works of art to be able to host events and parties. The house of the lord therefore becomes a status symbol.
Over the years the noble lord begins to stop practicing the trade and focuses on what best suited to his status by focusing on agriculture. The farm becomes a real farmhouse with income-generating activities associated with agriculture. The space devoted to the farm increases more and more with new warehouses, mills, wineries (especially in Tuscany ) and the lord house becomes a real villa with architectural and decorative touches. In Lucca and Siena nobles invest considerable sums to adorn their palaces and residences, while in Florence , even if they were calling leading architects to design the villas, the nobles preferred more frugal furnishings.
Unfortunately, from 1800 onwards, the crisis and the impoverishment of many noble families resulted in the sale and abandonment of some splendid Tuscan villas. Despite the neglect and lack of fundings, some agencies and private owners today seek to preserve the authenticity and beauty that for centuries has characterized these villas.
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A selection of our most requested villas in the area:
Villa with pool near Montepulciano (Siena), in Valdichiana. Sleeps 5, garden, air conditioning, hydromassage, Internet connection, outdoor toys for children. Spas, golf club, tennis club and riding stable within a few kilometres.
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Holiday villa a few kilometres from the beaches of Versilia and from Lucca. Sleeps 12/13, swimming pool, garden, hydromassage. Riding stables and tennis courts nearby.
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Villa farmhouse for rental vacation in Garfagnana, Tuscany. Farmhouse with accommodation for 8 people, garden, swimming pool, Internet connection.
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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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