Medici Villas and Gardens

From the fourteenth to the eighteenth century, the Medici family dominated European life. While promoting both arts and sciences, the Medici helped create a new style of architecture, present a new idea of villa life and promote the novel idea of living in harmony with nature. Used variously for pleasure and sports, scholarly and amorous liaisons, commercial enterprise, and botanical experimentation, their villas both expressed and influenced contemporary ideas on politics, philosophy, art, and design. Learn about a selection of Medici patron's public interests and private passions, as well as the architects they employed.