Photo: Beautiful Tuscan Villa Landscape Siena Tuscany Italy

An old villa compliments the beautiful Tuscan landscape which surrounds it, with rows of Cypress Trees and lush green fields in the Province of Siena, in the Tuscany Region of Italy.

The Tuscany is home to many different kinds of villas, some dating as far back as the time of the Romans. Many villas that are still inhabitable today however, date from the time of the Renaissance, starting in the 14th century.

In the Renaissance, villas were built to provide seasonal pleasures, an escape into the country from the stifling heat of the concrete Roman streets.

The first examples of Renaissance Tuscan villas date back to the time of Lorenzo de' Medici, the ruler of the Florentine Republic. His were the first villas to create vineyards that merged seamlessly with olive groves, fantastic gardens and then finally with the villas themselves, making everything appear as if it all belonged together and became one with the landscape. The more elaborate these components, the grander the family became, so many of the gardens contained rare and exotic plants, elaborate sculptures and statues, and grand water works. ... continue below the picture...

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During the 16th century the Medici family built a number of grand villas in and around the Tuscan countryside, many of which can still be visited, toured, or stayed in today.

Villa in the Tuscan countryside, Province of Siena, Region of Tuscany, Italy, Europe.