Medici Villa of Castello
Medici Villa of Castello
art site
Via di Castello, 47, 50141 Firenze, Italia
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Just a few steps from the Villa La Petraia lies the equally famous Villa of Castello, which was one of the country houses of the Medici and then Lorraine. The interior of the villa, not open to the public, is now the seat of the “Accademia della Crusca” (founded in Florence in 1583, its purpose is that of safeguarding and documenting the Italian language). The garden though is well worth a visit – originally planned by Tribolo for Cosimo I but considerably modified – with the famous fountain of Ercules and Antaeus (the sculptural bronze group by Ammannati is now housed in the Villa La Petraia) and the fascinating Grotto by Buontalenti, in which one can admire a variety of animals sculptured by Giambologna and his school.
art site
Via di Castello, 47, 50141 Firenze, Italia
Show on map
Just a few steps from the Villa La Petraia lies the equally famous Villa of Castello, which was one of the country houses of the Medici and then Lorraine. The interior of the villa, not open to the public, is now the seat of the “Accademia della Crusca” (founded in Florence in 1583, its purpose is that of safeguarding and documenting the Italian language). The garden though is well worth a visit – originally planned by Tribolo for Cosimo I but considerably modified – with the famous fountain of Ercules and Antaeus (the sculptural bronze group by Ammannati is now housed in the Villa La Petraia) and the fascinating Grotto by Buontalenti, in which one can admire a variety of animals sculptured by Giambologna and his school.