Villa di Castello - Medici villa and Garden
Description
The Villa di Castello, near the hills bordering Florence, was the country residence of Cosimo I de' Medici, Grand Duke of Tuscany (1519-1574). The gardens, filled with fountains, statuary, and a grotto, became famous throughout Europe; they had a profound influence upon the design of the Italian Renaissance garden. The villa also housed some of the great art treasures of Florence, including Sandro Botticelli's Renaissance masterpieces The Birth of Venus and Primavera.
Now it's the headquarters of the Accademia della Crusca, devoted to the Italian language and literature, whose origins can be traced back to 1570.The Accademia is famous because it created the first Dictionary of Italian Language in 1612, that influenced all the other European countries in the following centuries.
Entrance is free. Opening hours depend on the availability of the personnel, check opening and closing hours of the garden calling the number + 39 055 45269.