Italianate gardens of the villas of Tuscany

Italianate gardens of the villas of Tuscany

Italianate gardens of the villas of Tuscany

Tuscan villa formal gardens

Language lessons in ItalyItalianate gardens of the villas of Tuscany have been an integral part of the Tuscan villas since Renaissance times when they first made their appearance as conscious attempts to create for wealthy and influential Florentines the ideal place for humanist debate, based upon ancient Roman ideals. After a period of landscape design in the English style in the 19 C (for example, Villa Monaciano), the Tuscan formal garden returned in its italianate roots in the early 20 C, this time designed mostly for wealthy foreigners, often by garden designers who were themselves foreigners, foremost among them being Cecil Pinsent.

Tuscan garden of Villa Gamberaia
The formal Tuscan garden of Villa Gamberaia near Florence

In “the history and culture of Tuscany“, the role of the garden as a seamless extension of the architecture of Tuscan villas is outlined briefly. The practical outcome of the application of this concept are some of the most harmonious habitable spaces anywhere. Luckily for us, many of these villa gardens are open to the public for all or part of the year and should form an essential part of any Tuscan itinerary.

More about the Italianate gardens of the villas of Tuscany.