Designed by Giuliano da Sangallo for Lorenzo the Magnificent and built around 1480, this is the best known of the Medicis villas.
Preceded by a gardenredesigned in the nintheenth century, the villa with its
unusual "H" -shapedground plan stands on a porticoed base. A loggia
with Ionic columns and a broad pediment with a glazed terra-cotta frieze by
Andrea sansovino (the original is in a room inside) is situated at the center
of the harmonious classicizing facade. The double curving staircase however
was added in the late eighteen century to replace the original rectilinear flights
of stairs. Of particular note in the marvelously furnished interior is the splendid
"Salone di Leone X" (which takes its name from the famous pope, son
of Lorenzo the Magnificent) with important siwteenth-century frescoes: episodes
from Roman history, with obvious allusions to the life of Lorenzo, were begun
by Andrea del Sarto and finished by Alessandro Allori. The finest work, however,
is the lunette frescoed by Pontormo, depicting the rural divinities Vurtumnus
and Pomona, one of the masterpieces of Florentine Mannerism.
http://www.florenceitaly.net
This Web site has been created by David Abolaffio.
The author is not responsable for mistakes, wrong information or damages related
to the information included in this page.
Go to Medicean Villas Japanese page.
