Villa La Petraia

 

 

Villa La Petreaia

When you have extra time in Florence, visiting Villa La Petraia would be a good way to spend it. This villa is one of the series of rural building complexes in Tuscany which were owned by members of Medici Family between the 15th and 17th century. The Medici family was Italian banking family and political dynasty that first consolidated power in the Republic of Florence during the first half of 15th century. 

 

The villas they owned were the country palaces of the family, that also served as recreational resort for the leisure and pleasure of the family, and also as the centre of the agricutular activities on the surrounding estate. The Medici Villas were added to UNESCO  World Heritage List in 2013 so Villa La  Petraia is now owned by the Italian government.

 

From the bus station in Florence, we took a bus with direction to Caruso bus stop and made a walk 1 km to the villa. The entrance fee to visit the villa and the garden is for free but to visit the rooms inside the villa, visitors must be accompanied by a guide. The guided tours are available every hour and are conducted in English and Italian.

The villa has 2 levels, the upper level was more the residential area for the King Victor Emmanuel, while the lower level was more of the halls.

 

 

The walls in the main hall are painted and the walls in the upper level are more covered with tapestry.

 

In the upper level you will find the bedroom, bourdouir, dining room, study room, and playing room. 

 

 

 

 

Among the paintings collections you see in the villa, there are also some collections of Chinese paintings. The furnitures inside  Villa La Petraia were collected from other Medici Villas.

Villa La Petraia has two gardens : Italian garden in the front and English garden in the back. 

 

The Italian Garden of the villa