A house with a deep history
Upon entering, you will be surprised by the charm of this ancient residence, carefully restored and curated in every detail: a small jewel of unique beauty. Its centuries-old history has been restored by a skilful restoration that has managed to integrate the charm of the ancient with modern requirements of comfort and relaxation. In every room, you can breathe in the history and true elegance of the house through the centuries.
The first settlements can be dated back to the Etruscans, between the 4th and 3rd century b.C. A beautiful hypogeum preserved at the foot of the hill, a necropolis on the northern slope, and an ancient road carved into the rock (or “via cava”) date back to this period.
An inscription in Latin on the east facade bears witness to the subsequent construction of a Christian parish church in the early Middle Ages (9th-10th centuries) on the site of an ancient pagan place of worship. This valuable document also reveals the name of the architect: MAGISTER WIDO.
In the following centuries the structure was transformed from a religious building into a noble palace and in 1695 it became part of the possessions of the Gardini family, tenants of the Counts of Bolgheri. The current cellars and underground rooms still preserve traces of the oldest walls.
The Renaissance-style façade was built at the end of the 19th century in a refined eclectic style by the Florentine marquis Mario Guasconi, who acquired the property following his marriage to Adele Gardini (1886).
The renovation combined two existing buildings, still clearly recognizable today, into a single palace, following the model already set by the family residence in Florence (Palazzo Guasconi).
The last change to the villa took place in the 1920s, when the interiors were redecorated in the dominant Art Nouveau style and a unique panoramic terrace was built at the top of the roof, allowing for a view on the surrounding area in all directions.
