This castle, a unique gem, is for sale in a typically Tuscan landscape.
The building, in Moorish-Oriental style, is rich in Latin mottos, Italian phrases and musical notes.
This spectacular and original property consists of 13 buildings surrounded by 165 hectares of land.
The buildings are divided into farmhouses to be renovated, a hotel under construction and the castle, totalling approximately 17,000 sqm.
The castle and its historic park represent a 'unicum' of considerable historical, architectural and environmental value.
Thanks to the work of Ferdinando Panciatichi Ximenes d'Aragona, who transformed and enlarged the pre-existing building between 1843 and 1889, this original and spectacular castle took on its current appearance. Most of his life was thus dedicated to the titanic task of building the castle and park.
However, the history of the place is much older and is traced back to Roman times.
The great historian Davidson, in his 'History of Florence' states that in 780, Charlemagne himself on his return from Rome, where he had had his son baptised by the Pope, may have passed through.
Subsequently, the estate belonged to very important families, including the Altoviti, and then passed, at the behest of Duke Cosimo, to Giovanni Jacopo de' Medici, who in turn sold it to Sebastiano Ximenes.
The many rooms of the castle, especially those on the main floor, decorated with multi-coloured frescoes, celebrate Moorish architecture: the ceramic mosaics, perspectives, symmetry, reliefs and colourful domes are true architectural gems that make it possible to take a virtual journey through the Orient, from China and Arabia to Spain.
Each room recalls a world that Ferdinand never actually saw, but which he came to know through research and deep study ('Non sine labore').
A series of mottos, phrases and comments in Latin and Italian accompany visitors on a journey through space and time.
With its double façade representing the sun and the moon, the castle dominates the hill and already at first glance hints at the wonders and mysteries it conceals within.
In addition, the Marquis committed himself to the creation of an equally enchanting historical park, planting more than 147 species of trees, including palms, maples, redwoods, junipers and holm oaks, giving it a bucolic appearance.
Until his death on 18 October 1897, Ferdinando Panciatichi Ximenes d'Aragona dedicated his life to the restoration of this Tuscan gem.
The castle park has a priceless botanical heritage, consisting not only of the tree species introduced by Ferdinando, but also of indigenous ones.
There is a permit to build an 18-hole golf course on the property.
