Artimino
Resembling a perfect painting, Artimino
is picturesque and beautiful. Nestling in
the green hills of Tuscany, Artimino is
quaint and medieval and has been known for
its famous Medici ‘Villa La Ferdinanda’.
Ranging over the wine producing area of
the Vino di Carmignano, the wine of this
region was declared s a noble wine by the
Grand Duke Cosimo III de’Medici.
The Etruscans named the area as Artumeno
in the 8th century BC. History has recorded
Artimino in its annals as numerous Etruscan
burial chambers were found in the areas
of Comeano and Poggio a Caiano around Artimino.
The Roman style is still found in the names
of the villages and the farmhouses in this
area. The Castle of Artimino was constructed
in the Middle Ages during the 10th century.
Due to the focal strategic point of Artimino
there were constant tussles between Florence
and Pistoia. In the middle of the 14th century,
Artimino came under the rule of Florence.
Beautiful as a natural park, Artimino and
the areas around it was bought by Cosimo
I de’Medici. He named the area as
‘Barco’, and desired to create
a game reserve there. The park stretched
over the hilly regions of Artimino till
the edges of Vinci and was called the ‘Parco
Reale’. The Medici family considered
it their hunting grounds and constructed
a wall around the park to prevent the game
from escaping. Hunting was considered an
enjoyable sport as well as a lucrative form
of entertainment due to the fact that the
skin and meat of the game was valuable.
The Grand Duke Ferdinand appreciated the
beauty and value of Artimino and took charge
of the cultivation areas and the houses
of Artimino to create the royal ‘fattoria’
or the estate. The royal architect Bernado
Buontalenti, was commissioned to build a
beautiful palazzo that could house the entire
court. What transpired was the gorgeous
Villa La Ferdinanda in 1594. With incredible
architecture, this amazing villa was structured
at Poggio a Caiano. The lovely villa is
just 15 minutes away by car from Prato,
the capital of the province and also from
Montelupo Fiorentino and Vinci. The awesome
city of Florence is just 20 minutes away
from the villa.
The village of Artimino is guarded by a
huge tower that was used as a look-out by
the "protezione civile" or the
civil authorities for fires or if they were
going to be attacked by enemies. With the
harmony of linear form and lovely features,
the Villa La Ferdinand possessed the fantastic
architecture of a 100 chimneys built at
various angles in different forms and shapes.
This was incorporated as one of the villa’s
incredible features due to the fact that
Ferdinand who loved to hunt could keep his
guests warm always. The Villa houses grand
ballrooms, enormous suites, small chapels,
wine cellars and the Etruscan Museum. Adorned
by lovely frescoes by Pontormo, Andrea del
Sarto and other famous artists, the Villa
La Ferdinand has two adjacent buildings.
One of the buildings called the ‘Corridoio’
or Corridor housed the grooms, valets, and
servants, but has been converted into the
Hotel Paggeria Medicea as seen today. The
second building is the "Palazzo del
Sig. Biagio Pignatta" is constructed
in the same style as the first building.
The Palazzo del Sig. Biagio Pignatta has
been named after the valet of the Grand
Duke Ferdinand I, who lived on the first
floor. The ground floor was originally the
riding stables of the noble family but has
been transformed into the famous Restaurant
Biagio Pignatta offering delicious international
and traditional cuisines and the wines of
Artimino.
The area of Artimino comprises of 732 hectares
out of which 72 hectares face the South
and are used as the wine growing area with
the cultivation of Sangiovese, Canaiolo,
Cabernet Sauvignon, Trebbiano, San Colombana,
Mammolo, Occhio di Pernice varieties of
grapes. About 400 meters away from the Villa
La Ferdinand, the fattoria in the medieval
village produces the famous Barco Reale
and the Vin Santo wines. The olive groves
evolve over 180 hectares with the fattoria
producing the renowned cold pressed oil.
Visitors can enjoy traditional snacks served
at restaurants in the village of Artimino
with its ancient stone buildings, quaint
shops and Romanesque churches. Artimino
offers the spirit of the medieval ages and
the essence of natural beauty.
- Lastra a Signa
- Montelupo
-
Vinci
- Malmantile
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