The little town of Settignano is a delightful destination for a trip a few miles out of Florence to the east. The 15th century parish church of the "Assunta" in the town center has undergone many renovations.
Not far from Settignano is the famous Villa Gamberaia (72 Via del Rossellino), one of the finest of the 16th century villas and gardens. It was badly damaged in the Second World War but then restored to its former glory. Today it stands in what still looks like a typical Renaissance garden, with geometrically trimmed box hedges, a classically quartered parterre garden and a fountain in the middle, traversed by a great walk from one end to the other.
Address: Villa Gamberaia, 72 Via del Rossellino, I-50135 Settignano, Italy
Hours:
9am-6pm
Tips: Hours apply to the garden, the villa can be toured by appointment only.
In the Tuscan hills around Settignano nestle many magnificent villas, with grand gardens. These include the I Tatti Villa, at Ponte a Ménsola, which became Harvard University's Center for the History of the Renaissance after the death of American art critic Bernard Berenson (1865-1959), whose "Collezione Berenson" contains important works of art.
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