The Medici Villas’ sights in a new exhibition

FLORENCE, ITALY – The Medici Villas were summer residences, places to rest, go hunting and have leisure time. They were all painted in lunette form by Flemish painter Giusto (Iustus) Utens, entrusted by Ferdinando I de’ Medici at the end of the sixteenth century.

Seventeen lunettes have been painted, 14 of which have been collected and hosted in the Museum of Florence as it was, so far. This museum has been disposed of, due to the enlargement of the convent of the Oblate Sisters, and this caused the lunettes to be managed by Polo Museale Fiorentino again.

Three lunettes are exhibited in one of the villas called La Petraia at Castello, waiting for all the lunettes to be displayed in a permanent exhibition, starting next Christmas. In short, the Medici Villas as they were and as they are now.

Meanwhile, from July 10th to September 30th, with The image of the Medici Villas: the lunettes by Utens at Petraia, the three lunettes by Giusto Utens are exhibited: in particular, the representation of La Magia, Cafaggiolo and the same Petraia.

At the complete exhibition, instead, visitors will admire Trebbio, Palazzo Pitti con Boboli, Poggio a Caiano, Castello, Pratolino, Lappeggi, Marignolle, l’Ambrogiana, Serravezza, Montevettolini, Collesalvetti.

This exhibition is open from Monday to Sunday from 8:30 am to 6:30 pm (July and August) and until 5:30 pm in September; guided tours are available every hour, from 8:30 am on, and entrance is free; the villa is closed every second and third Monday of each month.