Villa Pecori Giraldi
The charm of Art Nouveau and the Mugello region’s great ceramic tradition
Villa Pecori Giraldi, nestled in a centuries-old park, is one of the most important cultural attractions in the Mugello Valley.
It was constructed on the site of an ancient Giraldi family building and, in 1748, it became the property of Count Antonio Pecori, who added his name to that of the former owners; in 1979, the family donated the building to the Municipality of Borgo San Lorenzo.
It has a Renaissance-style façade, while the interior decorations are a vivid example of the Art Nouveau style introduced to the Mugello region by the Chini family. The rooms in the villa were decorated with frescoes by various members of the Chini family beginning in the mid-19th century, from Pietro Alessio to Galileo, featuring geometric and floral motifs and neomedieval-style paintings. Of great significance is the series of decorative artworks in the reception hall depicting St. George and the Dragon, a work by Galileo Chini (1902).
The villa is now home to the Chini Museum, which contains a vast collection of ceramics produced by the Chini factory in Borgo San Lorenzo, and the Children’s Museum. Outside, the Monumental Park is the ideal place to relax after visiting the villa, but it also serves as a magical setting for events, weddings and celebrations.
