Villa dell'Ombrellino (Villa of the Little Umbrella), Florence
Perched on the scenic heights of Bellosguardo, the historic Villa of the Little Umbrella just outside Florence is known for its sweeping views, lush gardens, and rich cultural legacy. Originally built in 1372, it was home to the Segni family for over four centuries, including the historian Bernardo Segni; however, during the early 17th century, the villa found a notable tenant鈥擥alileo Galilei. From 1617 to 1631, the renowned scientist lived here, preferring the hilltop quiet over the bustle of Florence. It was here that Galileo worked on "The Assayer" and his groundbreaking "Dialogue Concerning the Chief World Systems".
During his residence, Galileo conducted astronomical observations, particularly on the motions of Jupiter鈥檚 satellites鈥攌nown as the Medicean planets鈥攁nd collaborated with fellow scientist Benedetto Castelli. These years marked a period of intense scientific activity and innovation, preceding Galileo鈥檚 final relocation to Arcetri. The villa thus remains a significant location in the history of science, serving as the backdrop for some of the astronomer鈥檚 most critical theoretical developments.
In 1815, the villa underwent a transformation under Countess Teresa Spinelli Albizi, who added an ornate iron pavilion shaped like a Chinese umbrella to the garden terrace, thus giving the building its current name. Later, in 1874, the Russian statesman Alexei Zubov acquired the estate and merged it with the adjacent Villa Torricella, redesigning the landscape into a vast romantic park filled with exotic plants such as palm trees, bamboo, and ginkgo biloba.
By the 20th century, the garden facing Florence was reimagined as an Italian-style garden by Cecil Pinsent, a British architect known for shaping some of Tuscany鈥檚 most refined green spaces. The villa gained further notoriety in the early 1900s as the home of Alice Keppel, a well-known figure in Edwardian society, and later her daughter Violet Trefusis, a writer and socialite.
During his residence, Galileo conducted astronomical observations, particularly on the motions of Jupiter鈥檚 satellites鈥攌nown as the Medicean planets鈥攁nd collaborated with fellow scientist Benedetto Castelli. These years marked a period of intense scientific activity and innovation, preceding Galileo鈥檚 final relocation to Arcetri. The villa thus remains a significant location in the history of science, serving as the backdrop for some of the astronomer鈥檚 most critical theoretical developments.
In 1815, the villa underwent a transformation under Countess Teresa Spinelli Albizi, who added an ornate iron pavilion shaped like a Chinese umbrella to the garden terrace, thus giving the building its current name. Later, in 1874, the Russian statesman Alexei Zubov acquired the estate and merged it with the adjacent Villa Torricella, redesigning the landscape into a vast romantic park filled with exotic plants such as palm trees, bamboo, and ginkgo biloba.
By the 20th century, the garden facing Florence was reimagined as an Italian-style garden by Cecil Pinsent, a British architect known for shaping some of Tuscany鈥檚 most refined green spaces. The villa gained further notoriety in the early 1900s as the home of Alice Keppel, a well-known figure in Edwardian society, and later her daughter Violet Trefusis, a writer and socialite.
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Villa dell'Ombrellino (Villa of the Little Umbrella) on Map
Sight Name: Villa dell'Ombrellino (Villa of the Little Umbrella)
Sight Location: Florence, Italy (See walking tours in Florence)
Sight Type: Attraction/Landmark
Guide(s) Containing This Sight:
Sight Location: Florence, Italy (See walking tours in Florence)
Sight Type: Attraction/Landmark
Guide(s) Containing This Sight:
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