Villa La Petraia, Renaissance villa museum in Castello district, Florence, Italy.
Villa La Petraia is a Renaissance residence in the Castello district of Florence, built across three landscaped terraces. The grounds contain geometric flower beds, citrus trees, and fruit gardens arranged in patterns that follow the sloping terrain.
A Medici cardinal transformed a medieval fortress into a grand residence in 1568 with the architectural contributions of Bernardo Buontalenti. This renovation marked the shift from military to domestic use on the site.
The central courtyard features frescoes about the campaigns of Goffredo di Buglione, reflecting the values of the families who lived here. These artworks reveal what the residents valued and how they saw their place in the world around them.
The site is organized across multiple levels with steps and paths connecting the terraces, so sturdy footwear is advisable. You can spend anywhere from an hour to several hours exploring both indoor rooms and outdoor gardens depending on your pace.
The villa contains fourteen original lunette paintings by Giusto Utens from 1599 that show aerial views of Medici properties scattered across the region. These painted panels offer a rare glimpse into the estates the family controlled during that era.
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