History

Built on the limits of the valdinievole valley, in a beautiful position on the hills of Montalbano, Villa Rospigliosi is the heart of a very precious architectural and environmental site. The construction of the austere, imposing building was ordered by Giulio Rospigliosi (who became pope in 1667 with the name of Clement IX) to celebrate the glory of the family he belonged to in his land. The design of the noble mansion and adjacent chapel was certainly conceived within Bernini's circle and carried out with the help of local collaborators and the direct participation of the roman architect Mattia de' rossi. The structure of the house is made up of a completely vaulted central body, enclosed by two lateral projecting wings; each of these consists of three rectangular structures covered by pavilion vaults. With this plan, Bernini wanted to introduce the new roman fashion, which provided for a large hall on the first floor, in tuscany; as a matter of fact, that is where we find the great central hall with its dome ceiling, huge dimensions, height and frescoes which identify the characters of the baroque culture. In the large oval hall you can see an interesting cycle of frescoes which fully decorate the walls and the dome with architectural foreshortenings, allegorical figures, stuccos and gilding.