Villa Demidoff, or Villa di Pratolino, is a park in the Florentine hills. The estate was bought by Francesco I de' Medici in 1568 and he built a beautiful villa and gardens on the site for his Venetian mistress, Bianca Cappello. Bernardo Buontalenti was hired as the architect and garden designer and created the perfect Renaissance pleasure villa set in a wonderland of a garden. Today, however, a very different place exists. Sadly, Medici's home and park, stuffed full of water fountains, grottoes and beautiful gardens filled with exotic plants and flowers, was mistreated and dismantled after his death. Three centuries later its beauty was finally restored.
The largest of the Medici estates with a huge Renaissance garden, 20 hectares wide, and extensive stables, it was abandoned by the family after the sudden death of its owners. In the eighteenth century, some sculptures were removed and sent to the Boboli Gardens. The gardens were left to grow wild until, in 1820, Grand Duke Ferdinand III took ownership. He had the villa demolished and the garden was redesigned in the English style – capitalising on the romance of that kind of garden but sacrificing Tuscan Renaissance heritage. In 1872, the estate was sold once more to Prince Pavel Palvovich Demidov.
Remnants of the old building were restored and the Villa Demidoff di Pratolino was born. After being inherited by Prince Paul of Yugoslavia it was bought by the province of Florence in 1981. Now it is maintained by the province and open to the public from May to September.
The Park of Pratolino is one of the most beautiful in the Florentine area. Though much of the Renaissance structures and appearance have been lost, some monuments remain. These include the massive statue of the Colossus of the Apennines by Giambologna and Fountain of Mugone also with a statue by Giambologna, Chapel of Buontalenti and Cupid's Grotto by Buontaltenti.
Other than this, there is also the Maschera pond, an aviary and the Lodge of Montili. However, these can only be visited upon request. Calling the park will allow you to do this or to book guided tours.
The park is a nature reserve, meaning that visitors can also experience local flora and fauna including centuries-old trees, deer, foxes and hares. Again, limitations require booking ahead to view some parts of the park. However, everything is free of charge, so if you're interested, it's very much worth your while to contact the park.
Find a luxury villa in Florence and spend a day exploring this magical garden, still beautiful despite the drastic changes it has undergone. It is one of the loveliest places in Florence!
The Park of Pratolino is one of the most beautiful in the Florentine area. Though much of the Renaissance structures and appearance have been lost, some monuments remain. These include the massive statue of the Colossus of the Apennines by Giambologna and Fountain of Mugone also with a statue by Giambologna, Chapel of Buontalenti and Cupid's Grotto by Buontaltenti.
Other than this, there is also the Maschera pond, an aviary and the Lodge of Montili. However, these can only be visited upon request. Calling the park will allow you to do this or to book guided tours.
The park is a nature reserve, meaning that visitors can also experience local flora and fauna including centuries-old trees, deer, foxes and hares. Again, limitations require booking ahead to view some parts of the park. However, everything is free of charge, so if you're interested, it's very much worth your while to contact the park.
Find a luxury villa in Florence and spend a day exploring this magical garden, still beautiful despite the drastic changes it has undergone. It is one of the loveliest places in Florence!
Photo credits
picture 3: Valerio Orlandini / CC BY-SA 2.5
picture 3: Valerio Orlandini / CC BY-SA 2.5
