Tuscany can give you royalty in the most peculiar places. Roughly thirty minutes outside of Florence, you will find the town of Cerreto Guidi. Now, on a map you may not notice this small town (or Cittadino); however, if you take the time to dive into this little town’s history, you will find some extraordinary events.
At the heart of the village, there you will notice a circle of houses and roads all of which lead a center dominated by a 16th century Villa Medicea. While not the grandest piece of architecture commissioned by the Medici, this is not just another villa. The villa was designed and built by Buontalenti in 1555 by order of Cosimo I dei Medici who used it mainly as a hunting residence. Its claim to fame lies less in its stated purpose and more within the realm of lore and the supernatural. See, the villa has gained its considerable reputation due in large part to a legend surrounding the mysterious death of Isabella dei Medici. It is said that she died at the hands of her husband, Paolo Giordano I Orsini, duke of Bracciano, who strangled her after a presumed betrayal. While not the only cause of the Medici-Orsini rivalry, this is certainly a key element in that dramatic tale. Since that time, it is said that the weeping ghost of Isabella still roams around the villas seeking peace. Even with this dark past, you will find the villa and its surrounding landscapes to be rather peaceful, with beautiful views of rolling Tuscan hills and quiet small town life.
In the present, the legend brings in many visitors who are eager to see what the Villa offers, and it offers a home full of Medici history. You get the feeling that you toured a person’s vacation home while they were away. The house met its purpose as a secluded refuge, and the ambiance of the site is exactly that: retreat from the world. It was ensconced in a circle inside of a tiny town and tucked into the hillside. It felt personal. The house today is full of all the Medici’s personal portraits, splendid furniture and hunting weapons (since it was a hunting lodge). It is complimented with a personal garden for a stroll, and a church for the Medici’s to repent for their sins.
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