Fiesole and the Medici Villas of Villa Castello and Petraia - 60 km from San Gimignano
Fiesole, from whose hill the view of the city of Florence is unforgettable, is a aristocratic and secluded small town, made up of beautiful Renaissance villas, avenues bordered by cypresses, gardens and a remarkable archaeological area, evidence of the ancient past of the city that was already alive when there was still no trace of Florence.
A few km away do not miss a visit to two of the 12 Medici Villas declared by UNESCO a World Heritage Site, two real jewels of Renaissance architecture. Villa Castello is the current headquarters of the Accademia della Crusca, therefore the interior of the villa cannot be visited, but the garden, designed by Tribolo are definitely worth a visit , they are a real example of a sixteenth-century Italian garden, characterized by medicinal plants and many different species of oranges and lemons. Words can never describe the magnificence of the entrance courtyard that will welcome you and that, when Florence was the capital of Italy, was transformed into a ballroom at the behest of the King. This enchanting villa became one of the favorite residences of Vittorio Emanuele II, king of Italy and his beautiful Rosina.