History of Villa Pandolfini

Lastra a Signa in Tuscany, Florence opens out a historical path that leads to the stunningly beautiful Villa Pandolfini. Built in the 1200s as a hunting lodge by the Medici family, the lush forests around the villa were used as hunting grounds by their family and friends. The noble lineage of the Villa Pandolfini reveals that the Pandolfini family owned the villa along with another villa on the banks of the River Arno called ‘Le Torre’ which can be seen as a walled castle from the 1300s. Cosimo de Medici’s close friend, Agnolo di Filippo who was also admired by the famous architect, Battista, lived at Villa Pandolfini for 12 years. Villa Pandolfini has been the memorable place where Filippo wrote his treatise on the governing of the family and died at the age of 86 in 1446.

By the year 1434, the nephew of the original Padolfini family, returned and renovated the villa to its present glory. The architect Bendedetto da Rovezzano was commissioned to restore this great ancient palace. In restoring the villa, the perfection and harmony of its linear architecture, the structure of the appealing loggia, the carved windows, richly sculpted stonework has enhanced and attracted famous people. The villa has been engraved with the year 1488 as the completion of the restoration work. The villa has been honored by the King of France, Carlo VIII who had frequented the famous villa as a child and King Charles VIII of France. The Villa has also been a peaceful sojourn for the great Emperor Napoleon Bonaparte.

The beginning of the 18th century, the Pandolfini family sold their lovely villa to the Samminiatelli family who in turn sold the awesome villa to the De Prat family who returned after their exile from France after the Revolution. Beautiful and ornate, the décor of the villa displays the style of the times with frescoes and tromp l’oeil ceilings. An expressive oil painting on one of the walls portrays the Marchise Francesco de Prat in his naval regalia explaining to his son the episode of July 14 1790 when he was a naval commander and his meeting with King Luigi XIV, while his wife in satin presides over the room. The entire family was entombed in a chapel constructed by Filippo Pandolfini.