For the first time ever, the historic garden of Villa La Quiete will open to the public on Friday, May 16, 2025. This remarkable 18th-century site, meticulously restored by the University of Florence with funds from the EU’s NextGenerationEU program (PNRR), will now be accessible to visitors after an extensive restoration project worth approximately 1.8 million euros.
The announcement was made by the Rector of the University of Florence, Alessandra Petrucci, during the conference which marked the beginning of the celebrations for the 250th anniversary of the university’s Museum of Natural History. Petrucci emphasized that this opening enhances the cultural heritage of Villa La Quiete and symbolically concludes the centenary celebrations of the University of Florence.
A Place of History and Heritage
Villa La Quiete, owned by the Tuscany Region and managed by the university as part of its museum system, has deep historical roots. It was a beloved retreat for Medici grand duchesses and princesses, including Cristina of Lorraine, Vittoria della Rovere, and Anna Maria Luisa de’ Medici, the Electress Palatine. The latter, upon returning to Florence as a widow, chose Villa La Quiete as her residence, immersing herself in the female community of the Montalve, a secular congregation dedicated to the education of noble Florentine girls. This institution remained active from the 17th century through much of the 20th century.
Commissioned by Anna Maria Luisa de’ Medici between 1724 and 1727, the garden was designed as a space for leisure and contemplation for generations of women who lived at the villa. The recent restoration efforts, funded through the Ministry of Culture’s PNRR grant for historic parks and gardens, included architectural and botanical renovations, as well as safety improvements to the visitor pathways.
Special care was given to the upper garden, where the original collection of bulbous and flowering plants was re-established according to the Electress’s vision. Additionally, the Ragnaia—a rare 18th-century example of vegetative architecture once used for bird trapping—underwent significant maintenance and restoration.
Celebrations for the Museum’s 250th Anniversary
The announcement of the garden’s opening coincided with the launch of the University of Florence’s Museum of Natural History’s 250th-anniversary celebrations. As part of the event, several museum locations, including the Botanical Garden, Museum of Anthropology, Museum of Paleontology, and La Specola, will offer free entry on February 22 and 23. Guided tours will also be available at the Herbarium, along with interactive workshops for visitors of all ages.
Among the notable attendees at the conference were Massimo Osanna, Director General of Museums at the Ministry of Culture; Eugenio Giani, President of the Tuscany Region; Sara Funaro, Mayor of Florence; and David Caramelli, President of the University of Florence’s Museum System.
The upcoming opening of the historic garden at Villa La Quiete represents a significant cultural achievement, offering the public a rare opportunity to explore one of Florence’s hidden treasures.