Medici villas

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The Medici villas are a series of rural building complexes near Florence 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.

Contents 1 History 2 List 2.1 Major villas 2.2 Minor villas 3 Gallery 4 References

[edit] History

The first Medici villas were the Villa Medicea 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 medicea di Careggi. 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 medicea di Montevettolini and the Villa medicea di Artimino, bought in 1595/6 by Ferdinando I while he was expanding the Villa medicea di Castello, Villa medicea La Petraia and Villa medicea dell'Ambrogiana.

The later villas are outstanding examples of Renaissance and Baroque architecture, and were often accompanied by gardens. The garden at the Villa medicea 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 medicea del Trebbio, Villa medicea di Cafaggiolo or Villa medicea di Pratolino; reside at the Villa medicea dell'Ambrogiana in the spring; and move to the Villa medicea 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 [1].

[edit] List

[edit] Major villas

1. Villa Medicea del Trebbio (mid-14th century - 1738)
2. Villa Medicea di Cafaggiolo (mid-14th century - 1738)
3. Villa Medicea di Careggi (1417 - 1738)
4. Villa Medicea di Fiesole (1450 - 1671)
5. Villa Medicea di Poggio a Caiano (1470 - 1738)
6. Villa Medicea di Castello (1480 - 1738)
7. Villa Medicea di Mezzomonte (1480 - 1482, 1629 - 1644)
8. Villa Medicea La Petraia (first half of the 16th century - 1738)
9. Villa Medicea di Camugliano (c.1530 - 1615)
10. Villa Medicea di Cerreto Guidi (1555 - 1738)
11. Villa Medicea di Poggio Imperiale (1565 - 1738)
12. Villa Medicea di Pratolino (1568 - 1738)
13. Villa Medicea di Lappeggi (1569 - 1738)
14. Villa Medicea dell'Ambrogiana (1574 - 1738)
15. Villa Medicea La Magia (1583 - 1738)
16. Villa Medicea di Artimino (1596 - 1738)

[edit] Minor villas

1. Villa Medicea di Collesalvetti (1464 - 1738)
2. Villa Medicea di Agnano (1486 - 1498)
3. Villa di Arena Metato (c.1563 - 1738)
4. Villa di Spedaletto (1486 - 1492)
5. Villa Medicea di Stabbia (1548 - 1738)
6. Villa Medicea della Topaia (c.1550]] - 1738)
7. Villa Medicea di Seravezza (1560 - 1738)
8. Villa Medicea di Marignolle (1560 - 1621)
9. Villa Medicea di Lilliano (1584 - 1738)
10. Villa Medicea di Coltano (1586 - 1738)
11. Villa Medicea di Montevettolini (c.1595 - 1738)

[edit] Gallery

Villa medicea di Cafaggiolo	Villa medicea di Careggi	Villa medicea a Fiesole	Villa medicea di Castello
Villa medicea La Petraia	Villa medicea di Poggio a Caiano	Villa medicea di Artimino	L'Appennino, Parco di Pratolino
Palazzo Mediceo di Seravezza

In addition to their country villas, the Medici also occupied the following buildings in Florence:

• Palazzo Medici Riccardi (1444 - 1540, then used by less important members of the family until 1659)
• Palazzo Vecchio (1540 - c.1560)
• Palazzo Pitti (1550 - 1738)
• Casino Mediceo di San Marco

and the Villa Medici in Rome.

[edit] References

• Giardini di Toscana, foreword by Mariella Zoppi, Edifir, 2001
• Alidori Laura, Le dimore dei Medici in Toscana, Edizioni Polistampa Firenze,1995
• Lapi Bini Isabella, Le ville medicee. Guida Completa, Giunti 2003
• Mignani Daniela, Le Ville Medicee di Giusto Utens, Arnaud, 1993