The Medici Villa of Collesalvetti

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The Medici Villa in Collesalvetti

A fifteenth-century grand ducal residence

A historic building in the heart of Collesalvetti

Located in Piazza della Repubblica, a stone’s throw from the Town Hall of Collesalvetti, you can admire what remains of a 15th-century Medici residence. This magnificent residence, built in the early 15th century by the Salvetti family and then purchased in 1476 by Lorenzo and Giuliano de’ Medici, expanded their prestigious collection of residences.

Despite its modest elegance and peripheral location to Florence, this villa has always enjoyed considerable prestige. One example is its inclusion in the lunettes of the Medici villas by Giusto Utens, commissioned by Ferdinando I for the Villa di Artimino. The original structure comprised a raised tower-like wing surrounded by an agricultural estate with woods, cultivated fields, farm buildings and a garden with geometric flowerbeds, the hallmark of the Medici style. A distinctive feature was a small crenellated guard building, known as the Pisan tower.

The history of the villa evolved over the centuries, from its expansion in 1571 by Eleonora di Toledo to its transfer to the Lorraine in 1737, a period that left valuable architectural testimonies. Today, the Medici Villa is incorporated into the urban fabric of modern Collesalvetti. Although transformed into residential units and shops, its historic façade, with elegantly framed windows and elliptical oculi, continues to tell its illustrious story.

The Medici Villa is currently a private residence and cannot be visited.

Useful informations

Who:

Alone, Children and families, Groups, In pairs, With friends
When:

Autumn, Spring, Summer, Winter
What:

See learn and discover
Other characteristics

Indoors, Outdoors, Reachable by public transport