History
The whole structure of Villa Peyron - Bosco di Fonte Lucente with the formal garden, extensive park, woodland and olive groves has a spectacular view over Florence to the south and Castel di Poggio to the east.
The garden spreads over terraces which stretch down towards Florence, organised into box parterres along the southern axis of the villa. The first terrace dates back to the twentieth century transformation of the villa by Angelo Peyron, while the other interventions in the park were done subsequently by his son Paolo from the middle of the twentieth century.
The villa was presumably built on top of Etruscan ruins and underwent adaptation and transformation until it achieved its present aspect, designed by the architect Giovanozzi. The property owes its name to the presence of a luxuriant wood, out of which the Italian style gardens emerge and the sixteenth century spring above the villa which naturally supplies the necessary water for the functioning of the many fountains and vast pond. The valuable statues embellishing the garden come from Veneto Villas along the Brenta to substitute those destroyed during the last war.
In 1998 Paolo Peyron donated the property to the Foundation promoted and supported by the Fondazione Parchi Monumentali Bardini Peyron in order to keep it intact for future generations. The preservation and improvement of the historic gardens is one of the principal aims of the Fondazione Cassa di Risparmio di Firenze, together with the divulgation of environmental values amongst the young.
