In Mugello 2022 PDF

HISTORICAL GARDENS
IN MUGELLO
There are about 110 of them in Mugello and
Valdisieve. They are historical gardens,
large and small examples of how art and
nature can be perfectly mixed thanks to
human genius.
Without doubt every single historical
garden in Mugello is worth a visit; but
the most well known are probably those
made by the Medici family in the XV
and XVI Centuries. Very well known is
the one at Pratolino, Vaglia which is on
the Bolognese, the road that connects
Mugello and Florence. Actually, not much
is left of the Renaissance jewel of art and
nature that Francesco I had made by the
genial Buontalenti at the end of the 1500’s:
fountains, grottos, water works, an aviary,
four glass houses, sound effects with music
and enchanting harmonies. An authentic
wonder, of which, unfortunately only a small
part still exists. Thefts and indifference in the
1700’s ( many statues were taken to embellish
Palazzo Pitti’s garden), the transformation
into an English Garden and the demolition
of the Villa by Granduke Ferdinando III di
Lorena in the 1800’s all did their part. The
actual appearance of the gardens is thanks
to the Russian Prince Paolo Demidoff, who
bought the property at the end of the 1800’s,
and restored what was left of the original
structure and added a large villa using the
existing buildings. Two other well known
Medici Villas in Mugello are Cafaggiolo and
Trebbio, both reached from the Futa state
road no. 65. Originally mediaeval Castles,
they were transformed into splendid country
Villas by Cosimo il Vecchio in the second half
of the XV Century. The evolution from castle
to villa was devised by architect Michelozzo
Michelozzi, who however, kept the fortress
like appearance of the buildings. One of the
historical gardens that has been knowingly
restored is the complex (villa, garden and
grounds) of the 1500’s Villa Le Maschere at
Barberino di Mugello. In the vast property
it is still possible to find Renaissance
pieces, remains of the typical romantic
disposition and numerous exotic trees, left
from an 1800’s fashion. The small garden
of Villa Lo Sprocco, near Scarperia is of
great architectural value. Devised and made
by Maestro Pietro Porcinai – agricultural
expert turned landscape gardener –in the
garden is a large example of a Red Beech,
also visible from the outside of the Villa.
Two other gardens worth a visit are those at
Villa Torre Palagio, Barberino di Mugello
and Villa Pozzolini near Bivigliano,
Vaglia. Both these estates have numerous
examples of enormous evergreen Sequoias,
that reach up to 6 metres in diameter and
35m in height.
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