Villa La Massa, Renaissance villa in Bagno a Ripoli, Italy

Villa La Massa stands on the banks of the Arno River with surrounding gardens featuring olive groves and lemon trees that spread across the property. The main residence retains its traditional character while accommodating modern facilities for guests.

The building dates to the late 13th or early 14th century, when it belonged to the Giraldi family; in 1544 Francesca di Giovanni di Niccolò's father bought it back after it passed to her on her marriage to Vieri Riccialbani. The Landini held it until 1780, selling it to the Rinuccini for 1250 Florentine scudi, and the Rinuccini gave it its present monumental form. From September 1941 to September 1943 it served as a detention facility for Allied officers; after the war the Grillini family restored it, added a floor and turned it into a hotel.

The name La Massa may come from a rock that once obstructed the Arno, as Emanuele Repetti suggested; recent geological studies instead link the river's bends near Girone to faults in the local rock. The villa passed by inheritance and dowry: in 1544 Francesca di Giovanni di Niccolò's father bought it back after her marriage to Vieri Riccialbani.

The property is located outside Florence's center and provides a shuttle service to help guests reach the city's main attractions. It is useful to plan your visits timing around this service to make the most of your stay.

The grounds include Casa Colonica, a restored farmhouse from the 1800s with separate guest suites and its own kitchen. This building offers visitors a more independent living arrangement within the larger estate.