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Villa Demidoff
Renaissance villa and gardens complete with a tormented colossusRenaissance gardens always seem completely extravagant and wondrous, but when they've become overgrown after decades of abandonment, their mystery only continues to grow.
Villa Demidoff and the nearby Villa di Pratolino were commissioned by Francesco I de' Medici in the 16th century and took over 12 years to complete. Yet despite the time it took to complete the elaborate park, the end result was a stunning near-labyrinth of natural caves, lakes and massive sculptures. Of the statuary, the 16th century "Appennine Colossus," is the main focal point of the landscape, and sits atop a fountain and grotto structure in what appears to be complete anguish at his fate of watching the pond for hundreds of years.
Although most of the park and villa was completed in the 16th century, it was all but abandoned in the early 1800s, and some of its delicate statues were actually removed and taken to another Italian garden. Sitting in a slow battle with nature for years, the gardens were finally rescued by Ferdinand III, Grand Duke of Tuscany, who was so struck by the natural beauty of the place, that he decided to destroy the ruins of the villa and focus completely on the winding paths of the grounds.
With his additions and care of the grounds, he turned the overgrown wonder of the Villa Demidoff into an English-style garden. After changing hands a few more times, the wild grounds eventually fell into the hands of the government of Florence, who operated the area as a public park during the spring and summer months.
Read more about Villa Demidoff on Atlas Obscura...
Category: Unusual Monuments, Strange Statues, Horticultural Marvels
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Edited by: atimian
