Posted By Mary Freeland on April 20, 2010

This beautiful Italian Baroque and Formal English style garden was established in the eighteenth century. It was then that a baroque stone niche was built that holds a statue of Neptune. Appropriately, the walls are imbedded with fossils and shells. The low stone wall on the property is the perfect place to take photographs and look at the breathtaking view of Florence, Tuscany, Italy.

In 1895, Romanian Princess Jeanne Ghyka became the owner of the Tuscan villa. She made the garden her personal project. The original raised flowerbeds were removed and oblong reflecting pools replaced them. I am sure she was the subject of a few conversations. No one knew very much about her except that she had an American companion named Miss Blood and only had guests in for tea occasionally.

The villa was owned by Baroness Von Ketteler next. The Baroness was the widow of a German baron. She purchased it in 1925. It was her influence that provided the garden with the wonderful topiary you see there today.

World War II almost destroyed the garden. Industrialist Marcello Marchi bought the villa and restored it to its former beauty. The family still owns the property and has converted it to accommodate guests.
As you walk through the gardens, you will see expertly trimmed Cypress trees. Boxwood shrubs line the reflecting pools. Pink roses and pink azaleas add color. Painters come to set up their easels to capture it on canvas and landscape architects come to study it.

What a relaxing place to visit! I hope you’ve enjoyed the stroll as much as I have.

Categories: Travel, Uncategorized, history
Tags: Italy, tuscan villa, Tuscany