Villa Feri
Encyclopedia
Villa Feri is a villa in Florence
, central Italy
. It is known as "gentleman's villa" (villa da seniore) already in the 15th century.
The first known documents about this villa date back to 1472, when Agostino di Lotto Tanini and Agnolo di Zanobi Da Diacceto sold it to Bernardo d'Antonio degli Alberti
. In 1481 it became property of the brothers Agnolo and Benedetto Bartolomei], then, at the beginiing of the 16th century, was acquired by Raffaello and Miniato Miniati. It was then property of Bartolini Salimbeni, who modified the structure of the main building, of the Vinci family and, later, of the Boni
family. In 1863 it was finally acquired by the Feri family, which eventually gave the current denomination (the Feri family Coat of Arms
is still visible on top of the main gate).
The building lies on higher grounds than the road delimiting its walls and it is symmetric in structure to the main door on Via del Podestà. The villa has two floors with a large tower-like room on top of 19th century making.
On the front there is an Italian garden from the late 19th century with hedges of laurel
, limes
, cypress
, platanus
, and a water-well. On the rear is a large garden with a centennial pine tree, while the northern side is occupied by a large limonaia
delimiting Via Martellini.
On the external wall of the villa is a terracotta tabernacle with a Madonna with Child.
The Feri family sold the villa to the current owners at the end of the 1980s. Since then it is also known as Villa Malavolta.
Florence
Florence is the capital city of the Italian region of Tuscany and of the province of Florence. It is the most populous city in Tuscany, with approximately 370,000 inhabitants, expanding to over 1.5 million in the metropolitan area....
, central Italy
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
. It is known as "gentleman's villa" (villa da seniore) already in the 15th century.
The first known documents about this villa date back to 1472, when Agostino di Lotto Tanini and Agnolo di Zanobi Da Diacceto sold it to Bernardo d'Antonio degli Alberti
Alberti
-Places:* Alberti Partido, a partido of Buenos Aires Province, Argentina* Alberti, Buenos Aires, the main town of the partido-Other:*Alberti bass, a musical accompaniment figuration, usually in the left hand on a keyboard instrument...
. In 1481 it became property of the brothers Agnolo and Benedetto Bartolomei], then, at the beginiing of the 16th century, was acquired by Raffaello and Miniato Miniati. It was then property of Bartolini Salimbeni, who modified the structure of the main building, of the Vinci family and, later, of the Boni
Boni
-Places:* Bone state, vassal state of the government of Celebes, Dutch East Indies* Boni, Haire, a town in Mali* Boni, Korarou, a town in Mali* Boni MRT Station, a train station in Manila, Philippines-Other:* Boni , a 2009 Telugu film...
family. In 1863 it was finally acquired by the Feri family, which eventually gave the current denomination (the Feri family Coat of Arms
Coat of arms
A coat of arms is a unique heraldic design on a shield or escutcheon or on a surcoat or tabard used to cover and protect armour and to identify the wearer. Thus the term is often stated as "coat-armour", because it was anciently displayed on the front of a coat of cloth...
is still visible on top of the main gate).
The building lies on higher grounds than the road delimiting its walls and it is symmetric in structure to the main door on Via del Podestà. The villa has two floors with a large tower-like room on top of 19th century making.
On the front there is an Italian garden from the late 19th century with hedges of laurel
Bay Laurel
The bay laurel , also known as sweet bay, bay tree, true laurel, Grecian laurel, laurel tree, or simply laurel, is an aromatic evergreen tree or large shrub with green, glossy leaves, native to the Mediterranean region. It is the source of the bay leaf used in cooking...
, limes
Limes
A limes was a border defense or delimiting system of Ancient Rome. It marked the boundaries of the Roman Empire.The Latin noun limes had a number of different meanings: a path or balk delimiting fields, a boundary line or marker, any road or path, any channel, such as a stream channel, or any...
, cypress
Cypress
Cypress is the name applied to many plants in the cypress family Cupressaceae, which is a conifer of northern temperate regions. Most cypress species are trees, while a few are shrubs...
, platanus
Platanus
Platanus is a small genus of trees native to the Northern Hemisphere. They are the sole living members of the family Platanaceae....
, and a water-well. On the rear is a large garden with a centennial pine tree, while the northern side is occupied by a large limonaia
Orangery
An orangery was a building in the grounds of fashionable residences from the 17th to the 19th centuries and given a classicising architectural form. The orangery was similar to a greenhouse or conservatory...
delimiting Via Martellini.
On the external wall of the villa is a terracotta tabernacle with a Madonna with Child.
The Feri family sold the villa to the current owners at the end of the 1980s. Since then it is also known as Villa Malavolta.
Sources
- Guido Carocci, I dintorni di Firenze, Florence, 1906–1907, Volume II, pag. 293.
- Giulio Lensi Orlandi, Le ville di Firenze, Florence, Vallecchi Editore, 1965, 2nd edition, Vol. II, pag. 112
- Piero Bargellini (a cura di), Le strade di Firenze, Florence, Bonechi Editore, 1977, Volume 54, pag. 138.
- Luigi Zangheri, Ville della provincia di Firenze: la città, Milan, Rusconi Editore, 1989, pag. 360.
- Bettino Gerini, Il quartiere 3, Florence, Edizioni Aster Italia, 2005, pag. 331.