Villa Lilia

This is one of the most magical places in the Florentine hills. The architecture of the villa and of the old garden are justly famous and in fact the garden has become one of the most famous in the world. The villa was finished in 1610 by Zanobi Lapi and during the succeeding centuries has belonged to the Marquis Capponi, Princess Ghykha, sister of the queen of Serbia and other well-known noble families. It lies on the hills above Florence, just outside the village of Settignano, with a beautiful view of the countryside and of the city of Florence, which can be reached in ten minutes by car or by the convenient public transport that passes through the village. The furnishings consist of perfectly restored antique furniture, decorated with elegant tapestries and old paintings. During your stay 3 domestics are employed every day for the cleaning of the villa. The bed and bath-linen is changed twice a week. The garden is an architectural masterpiece, and contains all of the best-loved features of the classic old italian garden and has been described in enthusiastic terms by all of the famous guests who have stayed at Villa Gamberaia in the last century. In part of the grounds close to the villa a swimming-pool has been built for the guests' private use, where complete privacy can be enjoyed. On the edges of the grounds are some elegant independent apartments that may be rented together with the villa or separately. Set on the hillside of Settignano, with extraordinary views of Florence and the surrounding Arno valley, the Villa is renowned for its splendid gardens, celebrated throughout the world by leading landscape architects and garden historians, and a source of creative inspiration to poets and writers.
 Completed in the early seventeenth century by the Florentine noble Zanobi Lapi in the Tuscan style, the villa combines interesting architectural features of both an urban palazzo and suburban villa. At the end of the nineteenth century, a Rumanian Princess began the transformation of the parterre de broderie into the beautiful parterre d'eau, enclosed at its southern end by a majestic cypress arcade. Elegant expressions of topiary art were created by the American-born Baroness von Ketteler, in the following decades. THE VILLA: The large salon on the ground floor, opening onto the grass terrace with superb panorama of Florence and the Arno valley. The ground floor of the Villa, comprising two elegantly appointed salons, interior colonnaded courtyard, and various administrative or meeting spaces. DESCRIPTION: Ground floor: Entrance with vaulted ceilings, hall, 4 double/twin bedrooms with bathroom (tub).
First floor there are 5 double/twin-bedrooms with 3 bathrooms (tub/shower), large living-room leading to furnished terrace overlooking the garden, dining room, large kitchen, laundry, lift.
The ground floor of the Villa, comprising two elegantly appointed salons, interior colonnaded courtyard and various administrative or meeting spaces are available for receptions, conferences, exhibitions, and other functions. Satellite TV, wireless ADSL. All the rooms on the first floor have air conditioning. Limonaia Annex: Accommodates 8 persons (ca.180 sq. meters) - Heating/air-conditioning. 
Ground floor: spacious living room with fireplace and characteristic architectural features; kitchen/dining room with large fireplace and wall oven, fully equipped with modern appliances; guest bath and laundry room; beamed ceilings and terracotta floors. 
 Second floor: four double bedrooms, three baths with shower or tub (one en suite), windows overlooking the lemon garden, with views of the surrounding hills and valleys. Capella Annex: Accommodates 6 persons (circa 180 sq. meters). Heating/air-conditioning. Ground floor: large living room with dining room en suite, beamed ceilings and terracotta floors; one double bedroom and bath (shower); fully-equipped kitchen. 
 Second floor (Mezzanine): two double bedrooms with bath (shower); walk-in closet and storage room. Nettuno Annex: Two entrances, from the green and from the cypress allée, with adjoining private garden. 
Accommodates 6 persons (ca.150 sq. meters). Heating/air-conditioning. 
Spacious living room with large antique fireplace and terracotta floors; three double bedrooms each with bath (shower); fully-equipped eat-in kitchen. Gamberino Annex: Capacity: 10/12 persons. 5 bedroom apartment.