The Medici villas are a series of rural building complexes in Tuscany which were
owned by members of the Medici family between the 15th century and the 17th
century. The villas served several functions: they were the country palaces
of the Medici, scattered over the territory that they ruled, demonstrating
their power and wealth. They were also recreational resorts for the leisure and
pleasure of their owners; and, more prosaically, they were the centre of
agricultural activities on the surrounding estates. In 2013, the Medici
villas were added to UNESCO's World Heritage list.
History The first Medici villas were the Villa
del Trebbio and that at Cafaggiolo, both strong fortified houses built in the
14th century in the Mugello region, the original home of the Medici family. In
the 15th century, Cosimo de' Medici built villas designed by Michelozzo at
Careggi and Fiesole, still quite severe buildings, but with additional
recreational spaces: courtyards, balconies, and gardens. Lorenzo de'
Medici spent long periods at the Villa di Careggi. Gradually, Florence became
surrounded by a collection of Medici villas, with others in more distant
parts of the Grand Duchy of Tuscany. By the end of the 16th century, there were
at least 16 major estates, with at least another 11 of secondary interest,
together with a constellation of farms and hunting lodges throughout Tuscany.
Giusto Utens painted a series of lunettes depicting the main Medici
villas in the 17th century, which are now held by the Museo di Firenze
com'era. The last Medici villas were the Villa di
Montevettolini and the Villa di Artimino, bought in 1595/6 by Ferdinando
I while he was expanding the Villa di Castello, Villa La Petraia and Villa
dell'Ambrogiana. The later villas are outstanding
examples of Renaissance and Baroque architecture, and were often accompanied
by gardens. The garden at the Villa di Castello, created for Cosimo I de'
Medici, Grand Duke of Tuscany, was the first in Italy by Niccolò Tribolo, who
later designed the Boboli Gardens for Cosimo's Florentine new residence, the
Palazzo Pitti. Each significant member of the Medici
family owned an estate. The Duke moved from one house to house. When in
residence, the villa became a microcosm of the Medici court. For hunting, he
could visit the Villa del Trebbio, Villa di Cafaggiolo or Villa di Pratolino;
reside at the Villa dell'Ambrogiana in the spring; and move to the Villa di
Artimino, to while away the summer in its cooler elevated position.
After the death of Gian Gastone de' Medici in 1738, the Grand Duchy of
Tuscany and the Medici's assets, including their villas, were acquired by
Francis, Duke of Lorraine. Today, some of the Medici villas are museums; others
are occupied by institutions, and a few are owned privately, and often hired
privately or used to stage public events. In 2006, the Italian government
submitted the Medici villas for designation by UNESCO as a World
Heritage Site. List
= Major villas = Villa del Trebbio
Villa di Cafaggiolo Villa di Careggi
Villa Medici in Fiesole Villa di Poggio a Caiano
Villa di Castello Villa di Mezzomonte
Villa La Petraia Villa di Camugliano
Villa di Cerreto Guidi Villa del Poggio Imperiale
Villa di Pratolino Villa di Lappeggi
Villa dell'Ambrogiana Villa La Magia
Villa di Artimino = Minor villas =
Villa di Collesalvetti Villa di Agnano
Villa di Arena Metato Villa di Spedaletto
Villa di Stabbia Villa della Topaia
Villa di Seravezza Villa di Marignolle
Villa di Lilliano Villa di Coltano
Villa di Montevettolini Gallery
In addition to their country villas, the Medici also occupied the following
buildings in Florence: Palazzo Medici Riccardi
Palazzo Vecchio Palazzo Pitti
Casino di San Marco and the Villa Medici in Rome.
References Further reading
Giardini di Toscana, foreword by Mariella Zoppi, Edifir, 2001
Alidori Laura, Le dimore dei Medici in Toscana, Edizioni Polistampa
Firenze,1995 Lapi Bini Isabella, Le ville medicee.
Guida Completa, Giunti 2003 Mignani, Daniela [1991]. The Medicean
Villas by Giusto Utens. Florence: Arnaud. ISBN 88-8015-000-6.
External links Media related to Medici villas at
Wikimedia Commons (Italian) Gardens and Villas of Tuscany
official website Museums in Florence - The Medici
VillaVilla of Poggio A Caiano Museums in Florence - The Medici Villa
della Petraia