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Description
Some members of the many branches of the Medici family built themselves, as their summer homes, imposing villas in large grounds in the beautiful Tuscan hills close to the city. Here, in the buildings and gardens, the architects could give free rein to their talents and their imagination, albeit initially within the constraints of the Renaissance. Artists, painters and sculptors were presented with plenty of opportunities to show the lighter side of their art. Some of the finest of these villas, which can be visited, are described below.
Hobbies & Activities category: Manor or country house
Ville Medicee Highlights

Villa Demidoff Park

The Villa Demidoff park is located at Pratolino, on the Via Bolognese. Little remains of the splendid villa that Buontalenti built for Francesco I de'Medici in 1575. The park, that has been
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Villa di Careggi

North of the Florence city center can be found another Medici villa at Careggi. Cosimo the Elder commissioned Michelozzo to make it his country seat in 1433. Lorenzo the Magnificent died in this villa on April eighth 1492.

Villa di Castello

The Villa Medicea di Castello, its grounds dating back to the 16th century, is just a few hundred yards west of the Villa la Petraia. The villa contains the Accademia della Crusca and is therefore
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Villa di Poggio a Caiano

About 18km/12mi northwest of Florence on the main road to Pistoia, in the village of Poggio a Caiano, is what is generally considered to be the Medici's finest and most splendid summer residence
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Villa la Petraia

The lack of signing makes it difficult to find the Villa la Petraia which is on the right, above the road between Florence and Sesto. Ferdinando de'Medici acquired the estate in 1575 and had it
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Villa of Artimino

Commonly called "La Ferdinanda", the villa was designed by Buontalenti in 1594 as a hunting lodge for Ferdinand I, since it lay in the vicinity of a vast hunting reserve. The most striking element
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Villa of Cerreto Guidi

Built for Cosimo de'Medici, first Grand-Duke of Tuscany in 1565. The villa was terminated with the collaboration of Buontalenti, who designed the imposing staircase known also as "Ponti Medicei"
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