The Villa Medici at Careggi located in the hills of Florence, Tuscany is a patrician villa. This was the first among all the Medici villas and also one of the villas that remained as a working farm. The villa is well characterized for its original architectural lines.The monumental atmosphere, seventeenth century decorations and the fine furnishings of the Villa Medici at Careggi are appreciated by the visitors.

Medici purchased the Villa Medici in 1417 and in the year 1459 he reconstructed it. Lorenzo de’ Medici renewed the terrace gardens and also shaded the boshi, after which he died in 1492 in the villa.The villa was ignored for some period of time until 1615, when extensive projects were taken on by Cardinal Carlo de' Medici. The projects aimed at remodeling the interior of the villa and also reconstructing the garden.

Villa Medici at Careggi was considered as the favorite residence of Florence and it also became the headquarters for Platonic Academy. The experts of arts, philosophy and literature came together at this place. It also served as a meeting place for highly prestigious intellectuals. During the start of nineteenth century, an Englishman Francis Sloane purchased the Medici villa. He was a scholar of natural science and transformed the park in a romantic style as well as enriched it with various exotic plant species. Some of them, still present, are the palm trees, strawberry trees, sequoias and the cedars.

In 1936, the Medici villa was purchased by the Hospital of Careggi of Florence and till date it’s their property. Today, the administrative offices of Careggi Hospitals have their headquarters there. The villa always welcomes visitors as well as continues to be an architectural monument. Historic references about the villa are contained in the free brochures that are given in the museums in both Italian and English. The Villa Medici at Careggi is an important Cultural centre of Florence.