Address: Via di Castello, 47- Tel. 055/454791 Località Castello
(Florence)
How to get there: by car state highway direction "Sesto
Fiorentino" by coach- ATAF bus 28
Just a few
steps from the Villa of Petraia lies the equally famous
"Villa of Castello" which was one of the country houses
of the Medici and then the Lorraine. The interior of the villa,
not open to the public, is now the seat if the "Accademia
della Crusca" (founded in Florence in 1583, its purpose is
that of safeguarding and documenting the Italian language).
The garden though is well worth a visit - originally planned by
Tribolo but considerably modified - with the famous fountain of
Hercules and Antaeus (the sculptural group by Ammannati is at
present being restored). The fascinating grotto has two
sarcophagus-shaped basins on which a variety of animals
sculptured by Giambologna and his school are to be found.
