Villa La Foce, Renaissance villa with formal gardens in Chianciano Terme, Italy
Villa La Foce is a Renaissance villa with formal gardens nestled in the Tuscan countryside, stretching across multiple levels of the hillside. The property features symmetrical beds and geometrically shaped boxwood hedges that work with the natural slope of the land.
The villa grew from a 16th-century nucleus that served as a post station and inn. The Origo family bought it with the surrounding estates in 1924, and Iris Origo commissioned Cecil Pinsent to lay out the gardens, built in successive phases between 1924 and 1939. The lemon garden was begun in 1933 and the lower terrace added in 1938.
The villa served as home to writer Iris Origo, whose literary work left a mark on the region. Her presence shaped how the gardens were designed and how visitors experience the place today.
Plan your visit in advance, as the gardens are open only at specific times and guided tours are required for entry. Wear comfortable shoes since the grounds have uneven terrain and require walking up and down multiple levels.
Under the double travertine staircase built in 1938, a central opening leads into the Grotta Azzurra, a grotto with seven niches. The staircase links the lower terrace to the lemon garden, and its balustrade is decorated with vases and obelisks.
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