Trebbio Castle

Historical Buildings

The Medici residence in San Piero a Sieve, in the Mugello area

This castle is an ancient medicean villa that was built on the ruins of a previous feudal tower by Michelozzo Michelozzi at the request of Cosimo de' Medici. It is now a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

The imposing construction is in San Piero a Sieve (Comune di Scarperia and San Piero), in the heart of Mugello, 500 metres above sea level. From its high position it dominates the entire territory, that, in the past, was crossed by important communication roads.

A tall crenellated tower rises above the large square of the building which is surrounded by tall, monumental cypresses. The castle still has an Italian garden on the west side and wide terraces and a vegetable garden at the south, with a beautiful 17th century pergola built on cylindrical pilasters.

Trebbio Castle - Credit: Fabrizio

This place was a favourite destination for Lorenzo il Magnifico for his hunting trips and for long periods both Giovanni dalle Bande Nere and Cosimo I lived there. In 1476 a young Amerigo Vespucci took refuge here, escaping from a plague-ridden Florence.

In the end, the Villa was sold by the Medici family in 1644 for 113,500 scudi (the currency of that time) to Giuliano Serragli.
Today it is a private building, but visits are possible by appointment.