The Medici Villa of Cerreto Guidi and the Historical Museum of Hunting and the Territory

A Brief History

The Villa's construction, which used materials from the ruined Castle of the Guidi Counts and the second circle of town walls, was carried out, according to documents, between 1564 and 1566, when the building is cited as having been "newly built." The supervision of the works is attributed in 1566 to the architect Davide Fortini, a former collaborator of Tribolo, who was likely succeeded by Alfonso Parigi the Elder.

The design of the stair-like access ramps, known as the "ponti medicei" (Medici bridges), is attributed to Bernardo Buontalenti and they constitute the villa's most distinctive feature. They consist of four imposing, perfectly symmetrical ramps made of brick and Gonfolina stone. They feature several openings, which once provided access to the stables located beneath the large forecourt. The ramps interact with the plaster of the villa's facade, creating a plinth that serves to naturally support the terrain and elevate the perspective plane—a design principle Buontalenti also adopted in other buildings.