Villa Pandolfini, 14th century castle on a 100h estate. - Apartment Rental Listing Details

Wonderful dining experiences at the many local restaurants, some noted as being the best in Italy. Relax at the villa and enjoy its grounds, wine and forest, or discover the many local attractions such as horse riding, trekking, antique markets, Caruso’s villa and gardens, medieval villages and Etruscan ruins. Trains, buses and all shops within walking distance and close to all major highways. Stroll down and buy your fresh bread or morning cappucino and feel like a local.

20mins to Montecatini.40 mins to Pisa / Lucca / Siena/ Bologna. 60 mins to Forte Dei Marmi/ Volterra/ San Gimignano/ Arezzo etc.
This is an incredible vacation experience. Live like a king, totally restored 5 years ago. From the living room 2 sets of double doors open onto the loggia and the very typical Italian style gardens with lemon trees, hedges and fountain. Sunny, very peaceful and private. 10m high ceilings with breathtaking frescoes, gold gilded mirrors, terracotta floors, this villa’s foundations date back to the 1200’s, the property produces fantastic extra virgin olive oil and wine. Each room is a pleasure in itself, the main bedroom opens onto the front terrace with views of hills and Florence. The second bedroom has a small en suite, a queen sized bed and a single bed. The kitchen has a vaulted ceiling and fireplace with a dining table seating 6.This is a privileged location only 10 mins from Florence enter whilst enjoying the beauty of country living. The owners speak; English, French, German and Italian.

History of Villa Pandolfini : Villa Pandolfini’s foundations date back to 1200. The original use of the palace was a hunting residence for the elite Florentine Gentile’s.

The origin’s of the Pandolfini’s was near “Ponte A Signa” and from ancient times they owned this villa and the other villa called on the Arno known as “La Torre” (the tower) that even today conserves the aspects of a 1300’s walled castle.

Agnolo di Filippo, great friend of Cosimo de’ Medici and admired by Leon Battista Alberti, tired and old retired in the villa of Ponte A Signa for 12 years, here he wrote the brilliant dialogues of the governing of the family and died at 86 years of age in 1446.

In 1434 the formers wealthy nephew Battista di Pandolfini returned in patria from Naples and gave the initial magnificent architecture to his villa at Ponte A Signa, honoured by the king of France Carlo VIII on the 13th of November 1495. Pandolfini has been engraved with the date 1488 which is believed to be the date of the full restoration of this antique palace. The linear and harmonious architecture, the beautiful loggia, richly carved windows, the perfect sculpture of the stonework , reflects the work of the famous Bendedetto da Rovezzano. King Carlo VIII of France visited the castle from childhood. Since the 14th century nothing was changed or hardly confirmed by Giuseppe Zocchi.

At the beginning of the 18th century the Pandolfini’s sold their antique villa to the family Samminiatelli which immediately resold the villa to the De Prat’s exiled from France after the revolution.

In one of the living rooms ,like the others, the 800’s style frescoes ornate the room and hung on one of the walls is a large oil painting of the Marchis Francesco De Prat in his white and red uniform that is narrating to his son the episode of July 14,1790, whilst serving as naval commander, and his meeting with the king Luigi XIV; also present is his wife dressed in satin who seated watches over us. Today all three rest in the chapel constructed by Filippo Pandolfini. Other guests included Napoleon Bonaparte.