Villa di Agnano, Renaissance villa in San Giuliano Terme, Italy
Villa di Agnano is a Renaissance country residence in San Giuliano Terme characterized by symmetrical facades, regular gardens, and traditional Tuscan building materials throughout. The structure follows classical proportions and combines the main building with formal grounds designed as a unified composition.
The residence was built between 1486 and 1498 and became part of the Medici family's network of country properties. It served as a retreat outside Florence and has shaped the Tuscan landscape for over 5 centuries.
Lorenzo il Magnifico used the villa as a casino di caccia and a meeting place for erudite gatherings, and in 1491 he stayed there several times. The rear loggia opened onto a walled garden divided into four geometric beds around a large fish basin, while dovecotes and poultry yards served the farm. In the 19th century the Este dukes added a belvedere terrace and an English romantic lawn, and the aviary from the Boboli Gardens was moved here.
The property lies in the Tuscan countryside and is easiest to reach by regional train to San Giuliano Terme station. From there, a marked path leads through rural surroundings to the residence.
The 19th-century aviary now at the villa came from the Boboli Gardens in Florence and was originally commissioned by King Vittorio Emanuele II. The English-style romantic park that replaced the Renaissance garden was laid out by the gardener Maximilian Hahn for the dukes of Este.
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