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natureNaturalistic attractions

Pratolino Medici Park

The Medici estate, home to Giambologna’s colossal statue

Map for 43.861551,11.299186
Vaglia
Via Fiorentina, 276, 50036 Pratolino FI

A green space a few kilometers from Florence, one of the largest parks in Tuscany and since 2013 also one of the Tuscan UNESCO World Heritage sites.
This is Pratolino Medici Park, the verdant estate near Vaglia and the perfect destination for a day trip. The estate was purchased in 1568 by Grand Duke Francesco I de’ Medici, who commissioned Buontalenti to convert it into a villa. Left derelict by Ferdinando III and Leopoldo II, the villa was demolished and its grounds restructured as English gardens. 
The park can be visited today, with glimpses of artificial grottos and fountains, and sculptures like the Apennine Colossus, the famous statue/fountain by Giambologna, Cupid’s grotto, the Mugnone fountain and the chapel, designed by Buontalenti in 1580.

Pratolino
Pratolino - Credit: Jacopo

You can walk for kilometers in the park along unpaved paths, narrow roads and trails in a wonderful natural habitat. 

Info: firenzeturismo.it

More attractions in  Vagliakeyboard_backspace
Vaglia
In the shadow of a giant standing in beautiful English-style gardens
Vaglia is famous for the beautiful Pratolino Park of Villa Demidoff, founded on the remains of the old Pratolino Medici Villa, which was demolished in 1822. Once the estate had been purchased, the family of Russian origin appointed the old pages’ building as the new villa, expanding and restructuring it. ...
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