The fourth day of the course for public and private stakeholders of the Medici Villas and Gardens in Tuscany took place today at Artimino in Villa La Ferdinanda, a beautiful monument built by will of the Grand Duke Ferdinando I de’ Medici to stay with relatives and friends during his hunting journeys. Built in just 4 years by Bernardo Buontalenti, the Villa – also called La Ferdinanda or Villa of hundred chimneys – completes the regional system of the Medici residencies.
After the visit to the Villa, which today hosts a private congress and hotel center, the participants were introduced to the theme of the day, i.e. the strategies to improve the fruition of the Villas and Gardens by visitors. Within this session, some cases of particular interest were presented, such as the one of Giardino di Pratolino, focused on the fruition of parks and gardens, the case of Palazzo di Seravezza, famous for its high level cultural exhibitions, and the case of Villa di Poggio Imperiale, the only Medicean Villa which hosts a public school.
The course will end on Monday 3 December at Villa La Magia, where we will try to summarise what has been discussed during the previous meetings and to establish priorities and guidelines on which to work to improve the system of the Medici Villas and Gardens in Tuscany.