Villa "I Tatti" in Fiesole: temple of art, culture and history

Florence, the birthplace of the Renaissance and art, is a romantic city full of surprises, magical atmospheres, works of art, museums, and sculptures scattered throughout the entire city center, home to some of history’s greatest artists, who contributed to making it an iconic city of beauty and art recognized all over the world.

The number of historical masterpieces within a few kilometers of each other is such that the ancient city center has been declared a Unesco World Heritage Site. What people might not know is that it’s not just the heart of Florence teeming with works of art but also its surroundings: in Fiesole, a town perched on a hill behind the Tuscan capital, stands Villa "I Tatti", a historic Renaissance-era residence.

History of Villa I Tatti in Fiesole

Villa I Tatti has been owned by many of Florence's most powerful families: first the Zati family, then Giulio d'Alessandro del Caccia, followed by the widow of Niccolò di Francesco degli Alessandri, Great Aunt of Tommaso de' Bardi in 1603, and finally, in 1906, it fell into the hands of famous art critic and historian Bernard Berenson, who lived there for more than sixty years with his wife Mary.

In 1936, Berenson decided to donate the villa along with its prestigious 14th–16th-century art collections, library, and collection of photographic images to Harvard University, which converted it into a center for research on the Italian Renaissance.
Art critic Bernard Berenson

Originally from Lithuania, having emigrated to the United States due to the religious repression against Jews, Berenson immediately stood out for his exceptional talent, to the extent that he was admitted to Harvard University where he studied and graduated. Immediately afterwards, he decided to move to Europe where he perfected his vocation for art history and met his future wife Mary Whitall Smith. The couple shared the same passion and began to study Italian painting, traveling between Tuscany, Umbria, Emilia, and the Marche, before eventually settling in Fiesole, where they bought what would become "Casa Berenson", a place of worship, art, and history.

In 1909, thanks in part to the art historian's fame, the mansion underwent a substantial restoration commissioned by Cecil Pinsent and Geoffrey Strong, the same architects who had worked on Villa le Balze for Charles Strong. At Berenson 's behest, the manor house and garden were completely transformed, converting the old mansion into a pivotal hub for the Florentine Anglo-Saxon community and the city's broader cultural scene during the first half of the 20th century, drawing together the city's leading artists and intellectuals. During his stay in Fiesole, the illustrious art critic created a rich photographic archive and an equally rich library, amassing important collections of Renaissance and Oriental works of art. The great significance of Berenson lies above all in the critical principles he introduced in the works entitled Pittori fiorentini (1896) and Pittori italiani del Rinascimento (1932), based on the identification of "tactile values" and "movement values".
The Masterpieces of Villa I Tatti

Villa I Tatti houses masterpieces by Giotto including "Frate Francescano" dating back to about 1300 and "Deposizione" from about 1320–1325, works by Gentile da Fabriano, including "San Giacomo Maggiore e San Pietro” from the polyptych Sandei, roughly 1410–1412, "Madonna col Bambino," roughly 1423–1425, "Estasi" by St. Francis of Sassetta, Ritratto di Vitellozzo Vitelli by Luca Signorelli, and many more.

These include many exquisite, rare works of art, including pieces by Bernardo Daddi, Pietro Lorenzetti, and Domenico Veneziano, among many others.

With his talent, style, and intelligence, Bernard Berenson contributed much to the history of the Florentine Renaissance. It is thanks to him that academics, students, and art enthusiasts can delve into this significant historical era that, in one way or another, has shaped our history.

The Villa also features Islamic pieces, Asian artefacts, and a large collection of sculptures from ancient Greek times to the Renaissance.

There are also works by Renato Guttuso and a ceramic plate decorated by Picasso.
The Gardens of Villa I Tatti

The Gardens of Villa I Tatti were designed by English architect Cecil Pinsent and are an important example of Renaissance-inspired 20th-century gardens.

Villa I Tatti currently boasts a spectacular Italian garden that is accessed from a long avenue lined with towering cypress trees. When visitors approach the garden, they are welcomed by a breathtaking panoramic terrace offering unobstructed views of the surrounding countryside. In addition to the terrace, there is also a lemon grove surrounded by well-manicured boxwood hedges and several beautifully terraced gardens.
Visits and events at Villa I Tatti in Fiesole

Currently, only the gardens are open to private tours.
The one-hour tour, which can accommodate up to 12 guests, is led in English.
Below are the dates of the “Spring 2024” tour: Wednesday 21 February (sold out); Tuesday 12 March and Wednesday 10 April.
A booking is required to participate in the tour, and can be made by sending an email to: tours@itatti.harvard.edu
Events are regularly planned and can be viewed by clicking on this link.

(https://itatti.harvard.edu/calendar/upcoming)

Tours of the Villa and viewings of its collections are suspended until further notice.
How to get to and where to stay in Fiesole

Villa I Tatti is in Via Vincigliata, 26 in Fiesole.

For a peaceful stay and to easily get to Villa I Tatti, Hotel Villa Fiesole is an excellent solution just 10 minutes away by car.

For the new 2024 season, Hotel Villa Fiesole will reopen on 28 March with the new Serrae Villa Fiesole restaurant run by the Michelin-starred chef Antonello Sardi.