Villa di Spoiano is a renaissance villa located on a hillock between

Tavarnelle Val di Pesa Tavarnelle Val di Pesa is a former ''comune'' (municipality) and since 2019 a ''frazione'' of Barberino Tavarnelle in the Metropolitan City of Florence in the Italian region Tuscany. It is located about south of Florence. Sights The main attract ...

and

Barberino Val d'Elsa Barberino Val d'Elsa is a ''frazione'' of Barberino Tavarnelle which was until December 2018 a sovereign ''comune'' (municipality). Barberino Val d'Elsa is located above the valley from which it takes its name. The centre of town is still ringed b ...

. It has been cited for the first time in 1689 by San Jacopo a Magliano.

Architecture

Villa di Spoiano consists of a large building with two wings arranged around an open courtyard facing the south. The complex is the result of the enlargement of some existing structures including a tower of considerable height. The villa appears to be generated by the union of two twin buildings, the originating volumes are still clearly identifiable on the south side where you can also find two elegant lodges with three round arches. The two towers are asymmetrical and had different functions: one served as a lookout tower and still has a sidewalk that allows to walk along ¾ of the perimeter, the other one served as a dovecote. There are various ''

trompe-l'œil ''Trompe-l'œil'' ( , ; ) is an artistic term for the highly realistic optical illusion of three-dimensional space and objects on a two-dimensional surface. ''Trompe l'oeil'', which is most often associated with painting, tricks the viewer into ...

'' decorated rooms on the first floor, the few chimneys and the presence of unheated bathrooms suggest that the villa was originally used as a summer resort residence.

Chapel

The octagonal chapel, attached to the main building, is entitled to the Holy Trinity. It was built in the early nineteenth century. The remains of some members of the De Nobili, Chiostri and Wäspi family are in the crypt below the chapel.

History

During the 17th century, the property was owned by the De Nobili Family. During the 18th century, the owners were the Chiostri family. In 1934 the villa was purchased at an auction by the Tinti Puccioni family. During the Second World War, General Kesselring and his German soldiers occupied the villa that was later on bombed by the

Allies An alliance is a relationship among people, groups, or states that have joined together for mutual benefit or to achieve some common purpose, whether or not explicit agreement has been worked out among them. Members of an alliance are called ...

destroying part of the lookout tower and many statues of the garden. In 1985 Spoiano was bought by the Wäspi family, who is currently managing the farm and the production of organic wine and olive oil.Nicchia Furian Raffo, Guerra nel Chianti

References

{{coord missing, Italy Buildings and structures in Barberino Tavarnelle Villas in Tuscany Tavarnelle Val di Pesa