Medici Villa La Petraia

The Medici Villa of Petraia is located just a few kilometers from Florence and was the out-of-town refuge of the Medici family. Today it still manages to fascinate visitors with its magnificent Italian garden encircling the villa and its richly decorated interior, that still contains a good portion of the original furnitures.

After various transfers of ownership, the ancient castle, which already existed in 1362, was acquired by the Medici upon their return to Florence in 1530. Donated by Cosimo I to his son cardinal Ferdinando in 1568, it was enlarged and transformed into a villa by the latter Medici, who became Grand Duke of Tuscany upon the death of his brother Francesco I (1587). The general renovation of the structure, a work of Davide Fortini with Buontalenti’s mark, was further enhanced with decorative elements and wall paintings.