 |
| Villa di Poggio, Caiano, Tuscany |
The Grandma and her friends are leaving Tuscany. They have spent some unforgettable weeks visiting one of the most beautiful places of the world and they have got lots of beautiful memories of this visit.
During the flight back to Barcelona, The Grandma has decided to read about, perhaps, the most famous Tuscan family, the Medici, whose actions changed the history of this wonderful land.
The Medici family was famous and rich people who had lots of possessions, some of them available nowadays. This is the case of their Villas that extended across Tuscany; give an idea of the great power and fortune that this family had.
The Medici villas are a series of rural building complexes in Tuscany which were owned by members of the Medici family between the 15th century and the 17th century.
The villas served several functions: they were the country palaces of the Medici, scattered over the territory that they ruled, demonstrating their power and wealth. They were also recreational resorts for the leisure and pleasure of their owners; and, more prosaically, they were the centre of agricultural activities on the surrounding estates.
In 2013, the Medici villas were added to UNESCO's World Heritage list.
The first Medici villas were the Villa del Trebbio and that at Cafaggiolo, both strong fortified houses built in the 14th century in the Mugello region, the original home of the Medici family.
In the 15th century, Cosimo de' Medici
built villas designed by Michelozzo at Careggi and Fiesole, still quite
severe buildings, but with additional recreational spaces: courtyards,
balconies, and gardens. Lorenzo de' Medici spent long periods at the Villa di Careggi.
 |
| Villa Medici, Fiesole, Tuscany |
Gradually, Florence became surrounded by a collection of Medici villas, with others in more distant parts of the Grand Duchy of Tuscany. By the end of the 16th century, there were at least 16 major estates, with at least another 11 of secondary interest -mainly agricultural or owned by the Medici family for a short time-, together with a constellation of farms and hunting lodges throughout Tuscany. Giusto Utens painted a series of lunettes depicting the main Medici villas in the 17th century, which are now held by the Museo di Firenze com'era.
The last Medici villas were the Villa di Montevettolini and the Villa di Artimino, bought in 1595/6 by Ferdinando I while he was expanding the Villa di Castello, Villa La Petraia and Villa dell'Ambrogiana.
More information: Visit Tuscany
The later villas are outstanding examples of Renaissance and Baroque architecture, and were often accompanied by gardens. The garden at the Villa di Castello, created for Cosimo I de' Medici, Grand Duke of Tuscany, was the first in Italy by Niccolò Tribolo, who later designed the Boboli Gardens for Cosimo's Florentine new residence, the Palazzo Pitti.
Each significant member of the Medici family owned an estate. The Duke moved from one house to house. When in residence, the villa became a microcosm of the Medici court. For hunting, he could visit the Villa del Trebbio, Villa di Cafaggiolo or Villa di Pratolino; reside at the Villa dell'Ambrogiana in the spring; and move to the Villa di Artimino, to while away the summer in its cooler elevated position.
After the death of Gian Gastone de' Medici in 1738, the Grand Duchy of Tuscany and the Medici's assets, including their villas, were acquired by Francis, Duke of Lorraine -later Holy Roman Emperor.
Today, some of the Medici villas are museums; others are occupied by institutions, and a few are owned privately, and often hired privately or used to stage public events.
In 2006, the Italian government submitted the Medici villas for designation by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site. At the 37th UNESCO World Heritage Committee in 2013 at Phnom Penh, Medici Villas and Gardens in Tuscany was added to the World Heritage list.
More information: Time Travel Turtle
All this art has given me the greatest satisfaction
and contentment because they are not only
for the honor of God but are likewise for my own remembrance.
For fifty years, I have done nothing else but
earn money and spend money; and it became clear that
spending money gives me greater pleasure than earning it.
Cosimo de' Medici
No comments:
Post a Comment