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Garden of Medici Villa of Castello in Florence

Garden of Castello
Via di Castello, 44 - tel.055 294883

Today the garden of Castello is formed only by the section opened to the public that is part of the homony-mous Medici villa, now seat of the Accademia della Crusca. The large park can be rightly enough considered a prototype of a 16th century Italian-style garden. It was begun in 1537 by Cosimo I del Medici and was part of the general plan that aimed at embellishing the villa of Castello, inherited by his mother Maria Salviati. The general project was assigned to Niccolo Tnbolo, while the execution of the large hydraulic system that conveyed water from the spring of Castellina to the numerous fountains scattered around the garden, was commissioned to Piero da San Casciano. The decorative elements of the garden aimed at exalting the peacemaker`s role of the ruling family and the importance of the enlightened grand ducal government. The vast majority of critics consider this plan a work of Benedetto Varchi. The most interesting element of this lavish and articulated decorative itinerary - described by Vasari and never completed — is represented, along the mam axis of the Italian style garden behind the villa, by the fountain of Herculesj and Antheus (by Tribolo and Pierino da Vinci, completed with the famous bronze statues of Bartolomeo Ammannati) and the famous Grotto of Animals or of the Flood, which was designed by Tribolo and originally animated with spectacular water plays aimed at simulating a perfectly natural grotto. The fountain is decorated with polychrome groups of animals, a symbol of the peace granted by Cosimo. The "Wild area" with beeches, oaks and cypresses forms the upper section of the park. Here we find the large tanks-cistern decorated with the statue of the Apennines or January, a bronze sculpture by Ammannati. It is also `worth visiting the garden of medicinal herbs and the extraordinary collection of oranges and lemons that is one of the most important ones in the world ..... from `Museums and Galleries of Florence and surroundings` ( Apt - Florence )

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