Tenuta Medicea
Empoli,
Italy
The area around Empoli, inhabited ever since the Palaeolithic, has witnessed the passage of many civilisations and different cultures, among which we mention Romans, who built a beautiful villa located in the city centre, and Etruscans who created a small cemetery with their characteristic tombs.
During barbaric hordes of the V and VI Centuries the major part of the population left off the town to live on the hills, where a thick web of military structure and fortresses, some of which are still admirable, was created.
It is in one of these panoramic hillsides that is set this Villa dating back to XVI Century with tinaio and annexes.
Building description:
The Medicean Villa (2992,5 square metres-
32211 square feet)
Dating back to 1500, the Palazzo was used as main residence of one
Florence?s most important families. It was used as the master?s accommodation on the first floor and in the small tower and as cellar and oil mill on the ground level.
On the attic floor there were some rooms used for wheat storage.
Now completely restored to the standard of a 5 Star luxury Hotel.
The Palazzo is composed as follows:The whole lower ground floor is occupied by the Hall, reception room, offices, a large lounge with arched ceiling, ideal to create a SPA or an indoor pool; professional kitchen and several rooms.
On the raised ground floor, reachable by downstairs, but with access from the main entrance as well, we find the central majestic lounge with frescoes and coffered ceiling. The floor is all in original terracotta tiles dating back 1500.
From the lounge open four doors on the right leading respectively to : a lounge with two windows and with a door opening into the garden, passageway, professional kitchens ( four rooms in total) and to and backstairs.
The four doors on the left lead instead to a lounge with one window, to the private chapel( with two windows), to a large passageway with access to the toilets and to outside, two suites ( one of them equipped for handicapped guests) and staircase with lift.
The first floor has been already divided into eight large suites ( comprising bedroom, large bathroom with shower and bath tub, living-room, dressing room and a smaller bathroom) four of which with mezzanine floor.
In the tower has been created a large suite divided into: large bedroom with bathroom on suite, living-room, smaller bedroom and two smaller bathrooms.
The nextdoor Tinaia all set on the ground floor, has been divided into nine additional suites.
The Vinaio (723,2 square metres-
7784 square feet)
It is set around the main villa as all the other outbuildings. Currently being restored, it will become a luxury dependance of the hotel.
Colonica (283 square metres-
3046 square feet) e and Loggia (182 square metres-
1959 square feet)
The first building disposes on two floors and was once inhabited by local farmers. The loggia, disposed on a single floor, was used as a tithe barn, storage for tools and stable.
Il Palazzo (1027,66 square metres-
11061 square feet)
Old construction set on three levels and used as cellar and rooms for agricultural use on the lower ground floor and private accommodation on the ground and first floor.
La terraia (538,06 square metres-5790 square feet)
Disposed on three floors for a total surface of
538 square metres, this building was built for agricultural use as all the other constructions set around it.
Il casolare (333 square metres-3584 square feet)
Typical Tuscan Style farmhouse on two levels internally linked by an old staircase.
The ground floor was a cellar. The first floor was inhabited by local farmers.
La cantina (535 square metres-5758 square feet)
The rooms on the ground floor were used for vinification and the first level used to be a farmer?s accommodation. This building has recently been restored.
Other agricultural annexes:
Ex stalla 1 (433 square metres-4660 square feet) ed Ex stalla 2 (135 square metres + 1453 square feet)
La Torretta (498 square metres- 5360 square feet)
The property includes a wide piece of land of 365 hectares, 60 of which is a vineyard producing a delicate white IGT wine called Galestro .
An excellent olive grove extends for about
33 hectares.
The rest of the land is divided between fit for seed (45 hectares) and wood (218 hectares) .
