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Villa Medicea La Petraia

Villa Medicea La Petraia, Florence: Address, Phone Number, Villa Medicea La Petraia Reviews: 4.5/5

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Villa Medicea La Petraia

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Villa Medicea La Petraia
4.5
221
#59 of 678 things to do in Florence
Historic Sites • Gardens
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What people are saying
“Beautiful”
Aug 2019
One of the best tours I had in Florence, so informative for such a beautiful place. Tour guide gave you great information about each rooms history and answered any questions we had and gave us time to look around and take pictures. Would love to go again to take even more pictures.
linda G
By linda G
“So beautiful”
Oct 2018
I had been here 13 years ago so was keen to go back. It's no longer possible to get a bus from Florence so you have to take the Tramvia from the SMN station to the Piazza Dalmazia stop then get bus 2 or 28 to the Seste 3 stop. You can buy a ticket from the station, it's only eur1. 50 for the tram and bus. From Firenze it takes about 30 minutes, not counting on stopping for directions where to get the bus but a good chance to practice your italian. Then it's a 15 min walk along via delle Petraia and the effort was well worth it, the Villa is beautiful with lots of amazing rooms with original , frescoes and paintings. It's also free, then time for a walk in the garden.
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4.5
221 reviews
Excellent
133
Very good
62
Average
15
Poor
4
Terrible
7
Shaz
40 contributions
Beautiful
Aug 2019 • Solo
One of the best tours I had in Florence, so informative for such a beautiful place. Tour guide gave you great information about each rooms history and answered any questions we had and gave us time to look around and take pictures. Would love to go again to take even more pictures.
Written 13 September 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
linda G
Province of Arezzo, Italy137 contributions
So beautiful
Oct 2018 • Solo
I had been here 13 years ago so was keen to go back. It's no longer possible to get a bus from Florence so you have to take the Tramvia from the SMN station to the Piazza Dalmazia stop then get bus 2 or 28 to the Seste 3 stop. You can buy a ticket from the station, it's only eur1. 50 for the tram and bus. From Firenze it takes about 30 minutes, not counting on stopping for directions where to get the bus but a good chance to practice your italian. Then it's a 15 min walk along via delle Petraia and the effort was well worth it, the Villa is beautiful with lots of amazing rooms with original , frescoes and paintings. It's also free, then time for a walk in the garden.
Written 11 October 2018
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
JDC3_30512
Blairsville, GA281 contributions
Absolutely Amazing!
Aug 2017 • Couples
The Architecture and the Gardens are absolutely breathtaking! Shock and Awe with the history that took place here! Gorgeous!
Written 24 September 2017
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
VoyagerAimerSourire
Princeton, NJ359 contributions
Beautiful Medici villa overlooking Florence
Aug 2017 • Couples
One of the best experiences from our trip to Florence: amazing hillside view overlooking the whole of Florence, serene elegant gardens, well-conserved rooms and salons dating from the Medicis to the creation of modern Italy, and all in a building that is small enough to visit in a couple of hours. We found that it was vital to visit it as part of the guided tour as otherwise too much history and background would be missed. The guide on the particular day that we visited spoke only Italian but we were able to follow partly along and enjoy this wonderful Medici villa.
Written 31 August 2017
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
zinderella0
Frankfurt, Germany5 contributions
quite a hidden highlight
Jul 2017 • Family
It's a quiet and pretty place with only a few tourists and really special guided tours. The rooms give a quiet good impression about the daily life of the great Medici Clan and the italian king. A must-see if you are more than a weekend in Florence!
Written 28 July 2017
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Janis G
15 contributions
Amazing insight to the Medici life!
Jul 2017 • Family
The villa is very easy to find and its free as being a part of unesco. As it was mentioned earlier there is a tour every 60 minutes. Its not guided e.g. there is a security person walking you through the villa but thats about all. Building itself is amazing and there is original furniture from 17th century still in there. Art- breathtaking, dont forget to check ceiling as there is always some artwork there. And the view to Florence...lucky Medicis had everything at their feet! Oh and its nice and quiet there comparing to the crowd in Florence.
Written 18 July 2017
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
fjane84
Island of Malta, Malta658 contributions
Gorgeous luxurious villa with views over florence
May 2017 • Couples
Wow! This place is amazing! All the rooms are full of antique furniture and historic items. The rooms are so exquisitely decorated you really understand how rich the owners were those hundreds of years ago. There's a free guided tour at half past the hour but not in English. It's incredible to find a free attraction so magnificent. There's a small free parking area close by, use a sat nav to get there and be prepared with your own research of the place. The gardens are lovely and have great views of Florence. I wish there was a donation box as I would love to have helped out this place as they do not have enough money to maintain it. The gardens are also pretty.
Written 23 May 2017
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Selvatica67
Florence, Italy88 contributions
An hidden treasure
Dec 2016 • Couples
This is one of the most enchanting Medicean villa to visit. Free entrance, you've only to be sharp (every 30' min. from 10 am to 4 pm, approximately) and leave a tip for people who bring you inside, without explanation: but don't worry. Special, in this place, is feeling a mood of the Italian belle époque, in a charming mixture with masterpieces of the late Renaissance. The Petraia was the favourite place in the "free time" of our 1st king, I mean Vittorio Emanuele the 2nd, who stayed here with his beloved wife (not the official one: this kind of ladies are called in Italian "moglie morganatica") . The Villa was settled with a special attention by the art's specialists and among several salons, bedrooms and boudoir you must visit the "salone da gioco", with something special and not common to see in the museums. Visiting the Petraia you can have a idea about the Italian taste which is able to mix different styles in a lovely way, absolutely Italian. Always empty, very few people know this merveillous places which was also a set for the Fratelli Taviani movie "Fiorile".
Written 6 January 2017
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
442sonia
London, UK44 contributions
Amazing gardens & interesting house
Oct 2016 • Family
The gardens are home to wide variety of unusual citrus species. You can only visit house as part of a tour - only in Italian. Plenty to see. Fun for all family.
Written 23 October 2016
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
James P
Lakewood, OH104 contributions
Skip the crowds, see this with history, charm beauty
Oct 2016 • Couples
First, there are very few tourists that attend this attraction. Second, plan ahead. Third, do take a phone in the event you can't walk from the road where the bus leaves you and you need to take a taxi ($19 Euro, nearly to the airport).

it is an impressive country residence built on a panoramic terrace on the outskirts of Florence. It was first bought by an old family, the Brunelleschi family, later selling it to the Strozzi's. They expanded the estate around 1420- 1430. Finally Cardinal Ferdinando bought it and transformed it after being nominated Duke in 1587 (see money talks). That is when the building was transformed around the 14 th centruy tower. The Savoy family bought it and enclosd the courtyard (making it a huge reception area) which is filled with 16th ceentury frescoes. The place is down at the heels, but THIS is that which many want to see - - - the wonder of history. I mean, do you want an equivalent of Gettysburg battlefield with a McDonalds??? Get real.

So, buy ALL of your bus tickets at a tobacco shop, find San Mark's bus area (on your map), grab the number # and get off on stop (Sestese) #3. Then, walk down the alley for 1/2 half mile and start to go up the hill - - - you are there. Or, get a taxi for 19 E one way. Bus is about $4 E.

Enjoy, do something different. Stop following the crowds and go where you start to travel to learn what Italy is all about.

Hours: 8:15 to 4:15 during Nov to April and 8:15 to 5:15 during other months. FREE (give the guard a tip, okay?).

ALSO, you need to realize this is one of 8 on the their national registry ; however, I'd say it is one of the top 2 you need to see in the province. Yes, see the Pitti Palace, but I'll address that later.

Ciao.
Written 15 October 2016
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
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