Villa Salviati, Renaissance villa in Florentine hills, Italy
Villa Salviati is a Renaissance residence in the hills surrounding Florence with ornately decorated facades and period architecture. The grounds include formal gardens laid out in geometric patterns, decorated with sculptures and terracotta pieces positioned throughout.
The villa was built in the 15th century as a summer home for the Salviati family and stayed in their hands until the 17th century. Later it changed purpose and eventually became an institutional and academic space.
The villa houses archives of the European Union and serves as home to academic departments teaching history and law. Today it functions as a working center where research and scholarship happen within these historical walls.
The villa sits in Florence's hilly surroundings and can be reached by road through the elevated landscape. Visitors should expect walking on sloping terrain and be prepared for the spread-out nature of the property.
The villa opens to the public only on Europe Day, providing rare access to its historical rooms and gardens. This single annual opportunity draws visitors who want to see inside what is normally closed off.
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