Villa La Petraia
Villa medicea La Petraia
A Medici villa in Castello on the northern outskirts of Florence, with terraced gardens overlooking the city, free to visit.
Villa La Petraia sits on the slopes of Castello on Florence's northwestern outskirts. Ferdinando I de' Medici remodelled it in the late 16th century on the foundations of a medieval tower, and in the 19th century it was the residence of Victor Emmanuel II, King of Italy. It is part of the Medici Villas and Gardens World Heritage site. The three-tiered terraced garden offers distant views of Florence and the Duomo dome, and it contains Giambologna's Venus fountain (Florence), with the original kept inside the villa. The inner courtyard, given a glass roof, was converted into a ballroom, whose walls are painted with scenes of the Medici family's achievements. The garden and villa are usually free; the interior is visited in timed groups with a guide. From the city centre, take bus No. 28 for about 30 minutes, then walk 10 minutes. It can be visited together with the nearby Villa di Castello gardens.
Opening hours
Usually from 08:15 until evening (varies by season); closed the second and third Mondays of each month; check the official website
Nearby sights
- Mercato Centrale
- Santa Maria Novella
- Medici Chapels & Basilica of San Lorenzo
- Galleria dell'Accademia
- Giotto's Campanile
- Florence Cathedral (Duomo)
- Santa Maria del Carmine (Brancacci Chapel)
- Oltrarno & Basilica of Santo Spirito