Villa Gamberaia (overlooking Florence)
Florence, Italy
Your search for Italian Villas has come to an end. Villa Gamberaia is set in the hills of Tuscany, close to Florence, yet immersed in the tranquility of the countryside. Villa Gamberaia also enjoys an exceptional position overlooking the city of Florence and the Arno valley. Italian Villas can offer comfort, tranquility and elegance. On the property of Villa Gamberaia one can stroll through its celebrated Renaissance Gardens. Visitors can contemplate the beauty of the garden design and its unique setting in the Tuscan landscape. Rich in history, Villa Gamberaia discloses its charms little by little to those who allow themselves the time to look, think and explore. Reception rooms within the villa may be rented for conventions and exhibitions and dépendances on the property have been transformed into fully-furnished guest houses and apartments, available for short-term stays.
History
Set on the hillside of Settignano, with extraordinary views of Florence and the surrounding Arno valley, the Villa Gamberaia is renowned for its splendid gardens, celebrated throughout the world by leading landscape architects and garden historians. Completed in the early seventeenth century by the Florentine noble Zanobi Lapi in the Tuscan style, the villa combines interesting architectural features of both an urban palazzo and suburban villa. In the eighteenth century the property belonged to the Marchesi Capponi, and by that time the house and gardens had acquired the characteristic elements seen in the famous engraving by Giuseppe Zocchi (1744): the cypress allée, bowling green, nymphaeum, grotto garden, boschi, parterre and lemon terrace.
At the end of the nineteenth century, Princess Giovanna Ghika began the transformation of the parterre de broderie into the beautiful parterre d'eau, enclosed at its southern end by a majestic cypress arcade. Elegant expressions of topiary art were created by the American-born Mathilda Ledyard Cass, Baroness von Ketteler, in the following decades. After the Second World War, the Villa became the property of Marcello Marchi and then of his heirs Luigi Zalum and family, who have continued the work of restoration and conservation.
The Apartments
Villa Gamberaia has four houses on the property which have been carefully restored and converted into comfortable guest houses. These are furnished with family antiques, yet equipped at the same time with modern appliances and conveniences. A wonderful alternative to a standard apartment for rent in Italy. The Cappella and Nettuno (along the Garden Avenue), the former belonging originally to the 17th-century Chapel, the latter once an indoor ball court for palla a corda; Limonaia (adjoining the Lemon House), an historic 15th-century farmhouse, which belonged to the family of the distinguished sculptor and architect Bernardo Rossellino as well as Serretta, small apartment next to Limonaia. Guests are invited to use the gardens and swimming-pool at il Gamberino.Ground floor: Entrance with vaulted ceilings, hall, 2 double/twin bedrooms with bathroom (tub). First floor there are 5 double/twin-bedrooms with 3 bathrooms (tub/shower), large living-room leading to furnished terrace overlooking the garden, dining room, large kitchen, laundry, lift. The ground floor of the Villa, comprising two elegantly appointed salons, interior colonnaded courtyard and various administrative or meeting spaces are available for receptions, conferences, exhibitions, and other functions.
Call or e-mail for rates and availability
Villa Gamberaia REQUEST RATE
(entire villa sleeps 18)
Nettuno
(sleeps 6)
From 2900 Euro per week
Cappella
From 3200 Euro per week
(sleeps 6-7)
Limonaia
From 3900 Euro per week
(sleeps 8)
Serretta/Eremita
(sleeps 2)
Rates include VAT.