The Villa
Italy is universally renowned for offering exceptional hospitality in villas with unique, centuries-old histories. These villas were sometimes inhabited by illustrious personalities and embellished by craftsmen who have influenced the history of Western art. Few other countries in the world can offer as much. In Florence, the finest properties are often secluded in the surrounding hills, providing breathtaking views of the countryside, beautiful historic Italian gardens, and cooler temperatures during the hot season.
Villa Il Garofalo, located on the Camerata hill in Florence, overlooks the magnificent Duomo by Brunelleschi and is a perfect and rare example of these magical settings. It is documented that the villa already existed in the late 13th century, and in the early 14th century, it belonged to the family of the notorious poet Dante Alighieri, who used it as a country mansion close from the city center, yet in the cool of the hillside.
Some scholars argue that the name of Villa Il Garofalo, also known as Villa del Garofano, actually comes from the ancient name of the Alighieri family, the Gheri. Gherofano means “the place that hosts the Gheri.” This reference is evident in the phrase from the Inferno canto of the Divine Comedy: “Io fui nato e cresciuto sovra il bel fiume d’Arno alla gran villa” (I was born and grew up above the beautiful Arno River in a great house).
When the Alighieri family was exiled in 1302, the villa was confiscated by the Republic of Florence, from which the Portinari family bought it back in 1332, as revealed by a contract preserved in the Florence State Archives (which states “casa novella divenne ai Portinari” “the new house became [the property] of the Portinari.”).
The Portinari were the family to whom the famous ‘Beatrice‘ belonged, so loved by Dante that he made her his spiritual guide in the Paradise of the Divine Comedy.
The Portinari family inhabited the villa continuously until 1507, after which the property passed first to the Giuntini, and then to various families of the Florentine patriciate. In the 18th century it came to the Bondi family, who inhabited it until the Second World War, embellishing it with objects acquired during their extensive travels. Many of these objects are still present in the Villa. In the 19th century, the Bondi family carried out an initial restoration of the villa.
When the Alighieri family was exiled in 1302, the villa was confiscated by the Republic of Florence. The Portinari family bought it back in 1332, as revealed by a contract preserved in the Florence State Archives, which states that “casa novella divenne ai Portinari” (the new house became property of the Portinari). The Portinari family included the famous Beatrice, so loved by Dante that he made her his spiritual guide in the Paradise of the Divine Comedy. From this period, the ancient well and its paving stone are still preserved.
Outside the villa, a plaque from 1865 honors “the memory of the divine poet and his Beatrice.” The Portinari family inhabited the villa continuously until 1507, after which the property passed first to the Giuntini, and then to various families of the Florentine patriciate. In the 18th century, it came into the possession of the Bondi family, who lived there until the Second World War, embellishing it with objects acquired during their extensive travels. Many of these objects are still present in the villa. In the 19th century, the Bondi family carried out an initial restoration of the villa.
During the First World War, the building became home for wounded and invalid soldiers. During the Second World War, it was chosen as one of the sites for the famous Meyer Hospital. Unfortunately, the villa was damaged by two Allied bombs, which mistakenly targeted it as the headquarters of German troops. In 1945, it was bought by the Counts Rimbotti, who carried out a thorough restoration using original materials, restoring the villa and gardens to their former glory.
Over the centuries, the villa has received adaptations and modifications that have maintained its charm and elegance.
The current external appearance is mainly influenced by the aesthetics of the Mannerist period, of refined elegance and exaggerated simplicity, with typical windows framed in pietra serena.
Inside, there are many halls, one of which is framed by two beautiful Renaissance arches and a large fireplace, also in pietra serena. Other rooms, furnished with taste and attention to detail, contain valuable furnishings and paintings. Of great impact are the splendid tapestries from the Brussels manufactories in the piano rooms and the ballroom. Also worthy of note is the large rectangular mahogany table in the Mirror Room.
The artist Xavier Bueno (a protégé of Countess Ursula Rimbotti at the time the family bought the mansion) created several works in this context, including the gigantic fresco in the Salone delle Feste, which also depicts the patron, Count Pier Francesco Rimbotti, as the first figure on the right, holding the house keys.
On the sides of the entrance door are the portraits of Dante and Beatrice, in two medallions, sculpted in the 19th century by Duprè, under which the following verses, expressly written by Luigi Venturi, are engraved: to celebrate the restoration carried out by the Bondi family:
“Questa magion campestre era soggiorno
al cantor dei tre regni, ed ei venia
giovane quivi a inebriarsi un giorno
di speranze, d’amor, di poesia.
E la lasciò, né più vi fe’ ritorno
poi che l’esilio gli serrò la via.
Or le ridona di sua gloria un segno
Le figlie e il nome di quel divo ingegno”
The villa is famous among connoisseurs of architecture for the beauty of the courtyard, which is medieval in character with a double row of loggias, in which the ancient well, on which the Portinari arms are carved, stands out.
The splendid position allows one to admire the whole of Florence from above, almost as if one could touch it with one’s hand, thanks also to real ‘vantage points’ in the garden. For many years the villa “Il Garofalo” has been declared a Historical Residence.
