Villa Medicea L'Ambrogiana

The Villa L'Ambrogiana was a rural palace or villa built during the late-renaissance by Ferdinand I de' Medici; it is located at the confluence of the rivers Pesa and Arno.

Utens' lunette of L'Ambrogiana (circa 1600)
Villa Medicea dell'Ambrogiana

History

It was built in 1587, putatively using designs of Bernardo Buontalenti, and built over a pre-existing structure. In the 19th century, the Leopold II converted the villa into a mental asylum. In 1886, it was converted into a jail for women and minors, and later into a jail for those judged mentally ill. The Villa and grounds in the 17th century were used by Francesco Redi for anatomic studies of leprosy, and by Andrea Scacciati and Bartolomeo Bimbi to create paintings of flora and fauna for the Grand-Duke Cosimo III de' Medici.

Still in use as an institution for psychiatric illness, guided visits to parts of the building can be requested.[1]

References

  1. ↑ Itinerari Scientifici in Toscana entry on the villa].

Coordinates: 43°43′51″N 11°00′52″E / 43.73083°N 11.01444°E / 43.73083; 11.01444


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