Continuing the Medici Legacy in Tuscany – A Renaissance Journey
Few places in Europe feel history so vividly alive — the Medici villas in Tuscany are just such places. These aren’t just impressive architectural landmarks; they are spaces where the past still breathes.
My fascination with the Medici family began with the Medici: Masters of Florence series — I was already living in Florence, but much was just backdrop to me. After watching it, I saw the city and its surroundings differently. When you stand beneath the loggias of Villa Poggio a Caiano, or stroll along the terraced paths of the Boboli Gardens on a summer afternoon, history suddenly takes physical form. You no longer just know the names Cosimo or Lorenzo — you imagine what life was like here, the views they enjoyed, the fountains they spoke beside… or the plots they wove.
Villa La Magia
Nestled on the slopes of Montalbano, Villa La Magia is breathtaking even in photos. The gardens, ponds, and intricate architectural details reflect Buontalenti’s artistry and his vision to harmonize nature and structure.
Villa Poggio a Caiano
For me, Poggio a Caiano is the epitome of refined elegance. Having visited in person, it felt immediately serene. The villa’s proportions, the rows of citrus trees, the quiet museum atmosphere — it doesn’t flaunt itself, but gently reminds you of a time when aesthetics and function worked in perfect harmony.
Villa Medicea di Cerreto Guidi
Here, you feel both rural simplicity and aristocratic power. The estate is understated yet every detail— from the sprawling courtyard to the surrounding Tuscan landscape — whispers of a family whose decisions shaped history. It’s a hidden Medici treasure that connects you directly to the past.
Castello di Cafaggiolo
Walking through the gardens of this Castello-villa feels like stepping into a carefully composed symphony. Every line and shape is in its place — orderly yet never dull. Here, you truly sense the Italian Renaissance as a style of landscape design as much as architecture.
Villa di Careggi
Though not open to the public, Villa Careggi still commands a powerful presence. Close to the city yet set apart — here, sometimes it wasn’t the decoration, but the very backdrop that mattered: a place of ideas and pivotal decisions.
This park feels like an atmosphere more than a place. The Colossus, grottoes, and playful water elements transport you into a fairytale world — all while preserving nature’s rhythm. The villa itself is gone, but you don’t miss it.
Boboli Gardens
I return to the Boboli Gardens year after year. Whether on a sunny spring morning or a crisp autumn afternoon, I always find something new: sometimes a sculpture, sometimes carefully composed spaces, or a wilder corner of vegetation — as if the garden is constantly changing its story. Near the Belvedere, I always pause for that view… opening both space and time around me. It feels as if I become part of a painting — not as a spectator but a character.
Villa Medici in Fiesole
From this elevated villa, the city drops away — you feel wiser. It wasn’t merely a home, but a place of reflection, where one stepped away from everyday life.
Poggio Imperiale
This villa brings a different energy — feminine yet strong, quietly powerful. It’s home to histories perhaps less known, but its walls still hold the same vigor it once received.
Why Visit These Medici Villas & Gardens?
These villas and gardens are not just beautiful — they hold a deeper resonance: a cultural DNA that helped shape Tuscany into what it is today. Visiting them, you’re not just a tourist — you feel like a pilgrim. Every tree, every stone, every vista tells a story — and in the midst of those stories, you find your own.