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project:
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Renovation of Villa Le Maschere
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The estate is located near Barberino del Mugello, in a borough called Le Maschere, poised on a soft rolling hill overlooking the lake of Bilancino. It is made up of the main building, Villa delle Maschere, which develops on four storeys for a total surface of some 7,000 m2, and of a smaller building, the Gardener’s dwelling, which occupies two storeys over some 800 m2. All around is the Park, which stretches over some 19 hectares. The first iconographical evidence of the Villa dates back to 1585; and the importance, beauty and splendour of Villa Le Maschere and its park are mentioned by many writers and travellers.
Two distinct styles, although perfectly blended, can be identified, thus indicating that the estate was built in two separate stages: the first structure dates back to the second half of the 16th century; while the late 17th century additions are attributed to Giovanni Battista Foggini, Grand Duke’s architect. In 1913, the Ministry of Cultural and Environmental Heritage decreed the historical, architectural and landscape interest of the villa and of all the properties belonging to the estate.
The whole estate, which was purchased by the present owner in 2000 in a state of abandonment and utter decay, will be turned into a deluxe hotel with 65 historical rooms, of which 52 in the “Villa” and 13 in the “Gardener’s dwelling”.
Works began in 2000 and have included cleaning up of all premises and rendering them safe by means of a network of metallic props. In addition, with the objective of halting degradation caused by atmospheric agents, a sturdy provisional metal roofing has been put into place, underpinned by vertical load-bearing structures.
The project includes bringing the rooms, corridors, stairways, box-rooms and common rooms to their old splendour; stonework and plasterwork will also be restored. The park will also be brought to its original beauty thanks to the rediscovery of its historical pathways, and will be enriched with a splendid swimming pool, on the same level as the surrounding garden, near the eastern façade of the villa. The old original stone canals for water collection, vaulted in brickwork, will be cleaned and repaired, to be used for water disposal in the future.
Restoration is aimed at recovering all of the estate elements with no distinction as to importance or epoch. A far-reaching pre-consolidation operation has already begun on all pictorial elements, frescoes and stonework and, under the guidance and direction of the Superintendence, works have begun in order to clean, protect, plaster, fill and pin everything that might be damaged further to restoration works on the building. Once restoration work is completed, and the Monuments and Fine Arts Superintendence approves the specific restoration programme, the actual renovation work will begin.
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