The Medici Villa of Petraia is located just a few kilometers from Florence and was the out-of-town refuge of the Medici family. Today it still manages to fascinate visitors with its magnificent Italian garden encircling the villa and its richly decorated interior, that still contains a good portion of the original furnitures.
After various transfers of ownership, the ancient castle, which already existed in 1362, was acquired by the Medici upon their return to Florence in 1530. Donated by Cosimo I to his son cardinal Ferdinando in 1568, it was enlarged and transformed into a villa by the latter Medici, who became Grand Duke of Tuscany upon the death of his brother Francesco I (1587). The general renovation of the structure, a work of Davide Fortini with Buontalenti’s mark, was further enhanced with decorative elements and wall paintings.
There are two magnificent fresco cycles: one by Cosimo Daddi, which depicts the Deeds of Godfrey of Bouillon during the Siege of Jerusalem, and one by Baldassarre Franceschini, known as il Volterrano, with episodes of Medici splendour, considered one of the highest examples of early 17th-century Florentine painting.
The famous bronze sculpture by Giambologna depicting Venus-Fiorenza that originally topped the ancient fountain in the garden is now located inside to protect it from the elements.
The gardens are stupendous, divided into three levels to take advantage of the sloping hill: from the highest terrace, you can enjoy a unique view over Florence and Brunelleschi’s Dome, while in the Piano della Figurina you can see the Fountain of Fiorenza, also worked on by Giambologna; lastly, on the north side, you can take a walk in the English park, designed in the Romantic style typical of the early 1800s.
