Villa Palmieri, once a favorite holiday destination of Queen Victoria and said to be described in one of the greatest works of Italian literature, is steeped in history and could now be yours – if you have more than €50 million ($55 million) lying around. .
Located in the hills on the outskirts of Florence, the villa covers an area of nearly 4,000 square meters (43,000 sq ft), while its garden covers nine hectares (22 acres), making it the second largest park in the city, according to the statement. CNN submitted Dreamer Real Estate, which is handling the sale.
Guests can arrive at the property via heliport and then enjoy the tennis court, lush gardens and ancient swimming pool. Inside the house, meanwhile, there are 23 bedrooms and 19 bathrooms, all with their own ornate interiors and arranged around an inner courtyard.
The villa dates back to the 14th century and was first owned by the Fini family before being bought in 1454 by Matteo di Marco Palmieri, who lent his name to the property. It passed into English hands in 1760 when it was purchased by the third Earl Cowper, and was subsequently owned by the Earl of Crawford and Balcarres.
It was during this period that Queen Victoria first visited the villa, staying at the villa for a month in 1888 before returning in 1893 and 1894. Plaques commemorating her time can still be seen on some of the trees in the garden.
Victoria ensured that she would have all the comforts of home in the villa, arranging for a bed, two armchairs, a sofa, a desk and a bathtub to be sent before her stay, along with other furniture and two portraits of her late husband the prince. Albert, the New York Times reported in 1888.
“The Queen greatly appreciates the total seclusion of the villa and the perfectly monastic tranquility it provides,” the paper added.
Prior to Victoria’s attachment to the property, he was already associated with one of Italy’s most famous writers, Giovanni Boccaccio, who is said to have described its gardens in his “Decameron” – now considered a masterpiece of the Italian literary canon.
Remnants of its historical past are also still scattered around the property, in the form of frescoes, paintings and busts, while more recently it hosted the Givenchy collection and became a venue for events and weddings.
