Exterior view

About the middle of the 15th century, a new style of living came into fashion among the gentry of central Italy. It began with the Medici. Members of that family took to spending part of the year in the country. At first they stayed at the old fortified farm-houses that had protected their estates in the later Middle Ages. However, they soon began to require something more refined, little country palaces where they could relax, entertain friends, read and hear music. The fortified Medici villa at Careggi was remodeled by Michelozzo in the 1430s. The Villa di Careggi was considered the Medici favourite residence; it became headquarters of the Platonic Academy and a place where experts in literature, philosophy and art came to gather. Lorenzo the Magnificent died here.

View the ground plan of Villa Medicea, Careggi.