Villa “I Tatti”, a historic Renaissance villa, is located on the beautiful hills of Fiesole, just 8 km from the city of Florence.
This splendid villa, with its Italian gardens and ancient atmosphere, has a fascinating history rooted in the past.
In 1906 the property of “I Tatti” was purchased by the famous art critic and historian Bernard Berenson and his wife Mary Pearsall Smith, both great lovers of art and connoisseurs of Florentine culture.
Under their stewardship, the villa soon became an important meeting place for the Anglo-Saxon intellectual elite who flocked to Florence, attracting numerous artists, writers and intellectuals of the time.
Critic Bernard Berenson’s illustrious encounters included the famous writer Virginia Woolf, who was fascinated by the cultured and refined atmosphere in Tuscany.
Today “I Tatti” continues to be a center for the study and promotion of the cultural heritage of the Renaissance, attracting scholars and enthusiasts from all over the world.
History of Villa I Tatti in Fiesole
Villa I Tatti has been owned by many of Florence’s most powerful families: first the Zati family, then Giulio d’Alessandro del Caccia, followed by the widow of Niccolò di Francesco degli Alessandri, Great Aunt of Tommaso de’ Bardi in 1603, and finally, in 1906, it fell into the hands of famous art critic and historian Bernard Berenson, who lived there for more than sixty years with his wife Mary.
In 1936, Berenson decided to donate the villa along with its prestigious 14th–16th-century art collections, library, and collection of photographic images to Harvard University, which converted it into a center for research on the Italian Renaissance.
Art critic Bernard Berenson
Originally from Lithuania, having emigrated to the United States due to the religious repression against Jews, Berenson immediately stood out for his exceptional talent, to the extent that he was admitted to Harvard University where he studied and graduated. Immediately afterwards, he decided to move to Europe where he perfected his vocation for art history and met his future wife Mary Whitall Smith. The couple shared the same passion and began to study Italian painting, traveling between Tuscany, Umbria, Emilia, and the Marche, before eventually settling in Fiesole, where they bought what would become “Casa Berenson”, a place of worship, art, and history.
It was at that time that a meeting took place between Bernard Berenson, his wife and the writer Virginia Woolf, who was vacationing in Tuscany, as described by the writer herself in her Diaries.
In 1909, thanks in part to the art historian’s fame, the mansion underwent a substantial restoration commissioned by Cecil Pinsent and Geoffrey Strong, the same architects who had worked on Villa le Balze for Charles Strong. At Berenson ‘s behest, the manor house and garden were completely transformed, converting the old mansion into a pivotal hub for the Florentine Anglo-Saxon community and the city’s broader cultural scene during the first half of the 20th century, drawing together the city’s leading artists and intellectuals. During his stay in Fiesole, the illustrious art critic created a rich photographic archive and an equally rich library, amassing important collections of Renaissance and Oriental works of art. The great significance of Berenson lies above all in the critical principles he introduced in the works entitled Pittori fiorentini (1896) and Pittori italiani del Rinascimento (1932), based on the identification of “tactile values” and “movement values“.
The Masterpieces of Villa I Tatti
Villa I Tatti houses masterpieces by Giotto including “Frate Francescano” dating back to about 1300 and “Deposizione” from about 1320–1325, works by Gentile da Fabriano, including “San Giacomo Maggiore e San Pietro” from the polyptych Sandei, roughly 1410–1412, “Madonna col Bambino,” roughly 1423–1425, “Estasi” by St. Francis of Sassetta, Ritratto di Vitellozzo Vitelli by Luca Signorelli, and many more.
These include many exquisite, rare works of art, including pieces by Bernardo Daddi, Pietro Lorenzetti, and Domenico Veneziano, among many others.
With his talent, style, and intelligence, Bernard Berenson contributed much to the history of the Florentine Renaissance. It is thanks to him that academics, students, and art enthusiasts can delve into this significant historical era that, in one way or another, has shaped our history.
The Villa also features Islamic pieces, Asian artefacts, and a large collection of sculptures from ancient Greek times to the Renaissance.
There are also works by Renato Guttuso and a ceramic plate decorated by Picasso.
The Gardens of Villa I Tatti
The Gardens of Villa I Tatti were designed by English architect Cecil Pinsent and are an important example of Renaissance-inspired 20th-century gardens.
Villa I Tatti currently boasts a spectacular Italian garden that is accessed from a long avenue lined with towering cypress trees. When visitors approach the garden, they are welcomed by a breathtaking panoramic terrace offering unobstructed views of the surrounding countryside. In addition to the terrace, there is also a lemon grove surrounded by well-manicured boxwood hedges and several beautifully terraced gardens.
Visits and events at Villa I Tatti in Fiesole
Currently, it is possible to take some guided tours only of the gardens.
The tour, consisting of up to 12 visitors, lasts one hour and is conducted in English.
The dates of the 2025 seminars and lectures are continuously being scheduled and can be viewed by clicking on this link.
Reservations can be made by sending an email to the following address: tours@itatti.harvard.edu
Visits to the Villa and its collections are suspended until further notice.
How to get to and where to stay in Fiesole
Villa I Tatti is located at Via Vincigliata, 26 in Fiesole.
For easy access to Villa I Tatti, Hotel Villa Fiesole is an excellent option, just 5 minutes away.
FH55 Hotel Villa Fiesole is the elegant and romantic residence where time seems to stand still. Surrounded by lush gardens, the hotel offers rooms with a splendid view of the city of Florence, where guests can relax and enjoy all the modern comforts in a charming and historic setting.
The Serrae Villa Fiesole Restaurant, located inside the FH55 Hotel Villa Fiesole in Fiesole, is run by Chef Antonello Sardi, who was awarded the prestigious Michelin Star 2025 for his ability to reinterpret the flavors and traditions of Tuscan cuisine in a contemporary way.
The restaurant is distinguished by its elegantsurroundings, attention to detail and careful selection of raw materials, many of which come from small local producers and are organically grown.
A stay at FH55 Hotel Villa Fiesole is a unique experience that will leave indelible memories for all those who decide to visit this little corner of paradise.