Stop off in the quaint town of Poggio a Caiano on your next vacation to Prato province in Tuscany. Stay in a quaint vacation rental in Carmignano which is only four kilometres away
It’s situated around nine kilometres south of Prato and is made up of ten frazioni including Calcinaia and Poggetto. One of the main sights to see in Poggio a Caiano is the lavish Medici villa.
In 1473 this ruined shell of a house was bought by Lorenzo de’ Medici. It was redesigned to have a quadrangular base around a huge central hall with windows all around overlooking the tranquil countryside.
It’s situated around nine kilometres south of Prato and is made up of ten frazioni including Calcinaia and Poggetto. One of the main sights to see in Poggio a Caiano is the lavish Medici villa.
In 1473 this ruined shell of a house was bought by Lorenzo de’ Medici. It was redesigned to have a quadrangular base around a huge central hall with windows all around overlooking the tranquil countryside.
This was revolutionary architecture that strove to unite the interior and exterior of a building and introduce lots of light and tranquillity into the heart of the residence.
It became a national museum in 1984 and following further refurbishment, it was fully opened to the public to come in and look around. Learn more about the great influence of the Medici family in the area from the Medici Park in Poggetto where their influential history can be discovered.
Walk along the scenic River Ombrone beside Poggio a Caiano and admire magnificent views of the Montalbano which is a mountain range in the area. Walk across the sturdy Bridge Leopold II which was constructed in 1833 and was among the first of Italy’s suspension bridges.
Enjoy a peaceful picnic in the shade of Borgo of Bonistallo which is a forest nearby in which there are two quaint little churches. It was once a hunting ground favoured by the Medici family.
Walk through the Cascine di Tavola which was once part of the Villa Medici estate but is now a protected area of natural interest.
It became a national museum in 1984 and following further refurbishment, it was fully opened to the public to come in and look around. Learn more about the great influence of the Medici family in the area from the Medici Park in Poggetto where their influential history can be discovered.
Walk along the scenic River Ombrone beside Poggio a Caiano and admire magnificent views of the Montalbano which is a mountain range in the area. Walk across the sturdy Bridge Leopold II which was constructed in 1833 and was among the first of Italy’s suspension bridges.
Enjoy a peaceful picnic in the shade of Borgo of Bonistallo which is a forest nearby in which there are two quaint little churches. It was once a hunting ground favoured by the Medici family.
Walk through the Cascine di Tavola which was once part of the Villa Medici estate but is now a protected area of natural interest.
Explore swamps and wooded areas here and breathe in the fresh air of the stunning Tuscan countryside before heading into Poggio a Caiano to explore the attractions of the town.
Look upon the war memorial in Piazza XX Settembre which honours the fallen of both world wars.
Art appreciators would most certainly enjoy a visit to the museum of still life here. It’s unique in the sense that the subjects of the paintings like flowers, trees and even humans are removed from their natural context and placed onto a striking background.
Look upon the war memorial in Piazza XX Settembre which honours the fallen of both world wars.
Art appreciators would most certainly enjoy a visit to the museum of still life here. It’s unique in the sense that the subjects of the paintings like flowers, trees and even humans are removed from their natural context and placed onto a striking background.
Photo credits
picture 1: Massimilianogalardi / CC BY-SA 3.0;
picture 2: Massimilianogalardi / CC BY-SA 3.0;
picture 3: Massimilianogalardi / CC BY-SA 3.0
picture 1: Massimilianogalardi / CC BY-SA 3.0;
picture 2: Massimilianogalardi / CC BY-SA 3.0;
picture 3: Massimilianogalardi / CC BY-SA 3.0
