Villa di Montalto

Villa di Montalto is a Renaissance villa near Florence situated on a broad terrace above Via Benedetto da Maiano. The estate includes a main building housing a conference center, a separate forestry house for residents, and expansive grounds with geometric gardens and an English-style park layout.

The property contains a 14th-century chapel and underwent major reconstruction in 1885 under Prince Friedrich von Hochberg, who added German architectural elements. This transformation blended the original foundation with Central European design features.

The villa became the residence of book collector Tammaro De Marinis, who gathered an extensive library of rare books and artworks within its rooms. His passion for collecting shaped the house and turned it into an important destination for art lovers in the region.

Access to the villa is via a long tree-lined avenue of linden and cypress that leads to the main building. Visitors should plan ahead as the grounds are now primarily used for private and conference purposes.

The geometric garden features a circular basin with statues positioned along pathways that intentionally frame views through the vegetation. This design element reveals how the landscape was deliberately planned to create sightlines and moments of discovery while walking the grounds.

Location: Florence

GPS coordinates: 43.78539,11.30030

Latest update: December 12, 2025 09:01