The Medici Villas and Gardens

Villa della Petraia and Villa Castello are one of the most suggestive residences of Medici family. They are located near the city centre. Both houses are linked by a boulevard which was built in 1833. Villa della Petraia was bought by Brunelleschi, then it was sold to the rich Florentine Palla Strozzi in 1492, in the end it was bought by Cosimo I de’ Medici in 1544.

Cosimo gave the building to his son Ferdinando, who became Granduca in 1587. He transformed the structure from a noble building to a royal residence.
The most important characteristic of the new structure is the abundance of sculptures and fountains, which make Villa Petraia a majestic building.
Villa di Castello is located beside the layout of an ancient roman aqueduct, which give the name of the city.