Sammezzano Castle Leccio – Tuscany - Italy Location Cities Airports Florence 37 km Florence 49 km Arezzo 57 km Pisa 116 km Siena 83 km Bologna 137 km Rome 253 km Rome Fiumicino 286 km Railway stations Rignano Sull’Arno Reggello 4 km Florence 37 km Motorways A1 exit Incisa-Reggello 8,6 km Sammezzano Castle, surrounded by a wide park, is located in Leccio (Reggello), between SS 69 regional street of Val d’Arno and the north hills close to Torrente Marnia. Located in the hearth of Tuscany, between Florence and Arezzo, it enjoys a superb location in a green territory full of trees and with wonderful panoramic views. Tuscany is a major destination for all international tourists thanks to its historical centers, medieval villages, natural and archeological parks. 2 History The main building is an eclectic one in Moorish style, due to the nineteenth-century restructuring of a large farm built in year 1605 from the Ximenes D'Aragona family. Sammezzano Castle indeed got its current appearance thanks to the work of Ferdinando Panciatichi Ximenes d'Aragona who renovated and expanded the pre-existing building during the period between 1843 and 1889. In about forty years the marquis designed, financed and realized Sammezzano park and castle, the most important example of orientalist architecture in Italy. All bricks, stuccoes and tiles were made "on site". Following "Orientalism" which spread throughout Europe from the beginning of the nineteenth century and which saw Florence as one of the main centers, Ferdinando Panciatichi Ximenes d'Aragona began to modify the existing structure and to create new rooms: the entrance hall in 1853, in 1862 the Corridor of the Stalactites, the Ballroom in 1867 up to the central tower which shows the date of 1889. In 1878 the castle also hosted the king of Italy Umberto I. The history of the place however is significantly older: it is possible to trace it back to the Roman period, as well as to the subsequent centuries. In the "History of Florence" written by the great historian Robert Davidsohn, it is reported that in 780 Charlemagne could have passed by the place on his way back from Rome, where he went to have his son baptized by the Pope. The land on which Sammezzano is erected has always been owned by very influential and powerful families: first by the Altoviti family, and later, as requested by the Duke Cosimo de’ Medici, transferred to Giovanni Jacopo de 'Medici, who in turn sold it to Sebastiano Ximenes. The estate remained in possession of the Ximenes d'Aragona family until the last successor, Ferdinando, who died in 1816. A cabreum of 1818 (hence prior to the renovation of Ferdinando Panciatichi Ximenes d'Aragona) written by the engineer Giuseppe Faldi reported a structure with majestic size, protective barriers and with entrance steps that were situated on the opposite side of the current stairway. 3 General Plan Farmhouse Sociana A 304,72 Sqm Farmhouse Sociana B 189,80 Sqm Farmhouse Borghetto Pirelli Terpini Building 1 358 Sqm 164,85 Sqm Club House Marnia 1.006,32 Sqm Terpini Building 2 181,40 Sqm Hotel under construction 8.880 Sqm Custodian House 90,90 Sqm Two Buildings (Ruins) Sammezzano Castle 176 Sqm 5.430 Sqm Rest House Farmhouse Quartaio 78,28 Sqm 960 Sqm Hunting Lodge 350 Sqm 4 General view Farmhouse Two Sammezzano Hunting Farmhouse Farmhouse Farmhouse Custodian Club House Terpini Terpini Hotel under Borghetto buildings Rest House castle Lodge Quartaio Sociana A Sociana B House Marnia Building 1 Building 2 construction Pirelli (Ruins) 164,85 5.430 Sqm 358 Sqm 350 Sqm 960 Sqm 304,72 Sqm 189,80 Sqm 176 Sqm 90,90 Sqm 78,28 Sqm 1.006,32 Sqm 181,40 Sqm 8.880 Sqm Sqm The entire property consists of 165 hectares, upon which stands the historical park with 65 hectares and the monumental castle, 10 farmhouses, 2 ruins and a hotel under construction all with a total built surface of approx. 18.000 Sqm. 5 Castle The Castle has a rectangular planimetric layout and spreads over three floors above ground and a basement: reception and catering area with related services (kitchens, stores, toilets) are located on the ground floor; representative rooms with oriental-style decorations that make the castle unique are located on the first floor instead; suites with access from the galleries overlooking the halls are located on the second floor. The façades harmoniously combine local tradition with oriental architecture: the main one is characterized by a monumental staircase with double ramp and by a clock tower. 6 Castle The different rooms of Sammezzano Castle, in particular those on the main floor, allow you to make a virtual journey across the East, from China and the Arab world to Spain. Every room is a world that Ferdinando has never really seen, but that he has actually known through research and deep study. A series of mottos, sentences and comments, in Latin and Italian, guide visitors on a journey through space and time. The style of many rooms has its origin in his passion for "Orientalism". It is also unusual that a Moorish-Oriental style castle with Latin mottoes, Italian sentences and even musical notes fits in a typical Tuscany landscape. This mix of Tuscany nature, Moorish-oriental style and ancient culture is one of the exclusive factors of Sammezzano, that cannot be considered as a classic manor only, but as a unique building different from any other. With a more in-depth analysis, the main Moorish elements of the castle appear to be the extremely precious ceramic mosaics, the colorful geometric and vegetal harmonies, but also the evocative bas-reliefs and the various domes with intertwined arches. 7 Farmhouses and ruins Farmhouse Borghetto Pirelli: Farmhouse with a panoramic view, it consists of approx. 358 sqm spread over two floors. Hunting Lodge: It has been built by Ferdinando Panciatichi Ximenes of Aragon in the place of an old farmhouse during the second half of the nineteenth century. Located on the main access road, on a hill accessible by two independent ramps, it has oriental style and spreads over four floors of which a basement and an attic for a total surface of approx. 350 sqm. Farmhouse Quartaio: Typical farmhouse of the area of Valdarno, it is the one closest to the built-up area of the Leccio, consisting of two buildings that develop on two floors above ground as well as a dovecote and an adjacent building for warehouse / cellar for a total surface of approx. 960 sqm. Farmhouse Sociana A: Farmhouse located near the church of Santa Maria in Sociana with a panoramic view and built in traditional masonry with two floors above ground for a total surface of approx. 304.72 sqm. Farmhouse Sociana B: Farmhouse located near the church of Santa Maria in Sociana, adjacent to the country house Sociana "A" and built in traditional masonry with two floors above ground for a total surface of approx. 189.80 sqm. On the lower floor two warehouses are located; on the upper floor instead a house with access from an external staircase is located. Two Buildings (Ruins): Ruins of two modest buildings, respectively 140 sqm and 36 sqm, of which portions of the perimeter walls remain, located close to the castle's lawn. Custodian House: A one-floor building in traditional masonry of more recent construction and located along the SS 69 regional street right at the entrance to the park. It has an area of approx. 90.90 over some artifacts held in the courtyard. Rest House: Located between the hunting lodge and the castle, originally built as a chapel, then converted into a bar / restaurant, is made of traditional masonry, with decorative elements and clear references to the castle. It consists of approx. 78.28 sqm. Club House Marnia: The Marnia farmhouse complex, located in the center of the valley of the Marnia river on the north-east of the castle, consists of three buildings of considerable architectural value: an ancient medieval tower adjacent to a two-floor farmhouse with a court, a well and an independent barn. The buildings have a total area of approx. 1006.32 sqm. Terpini Building 1: The Terpini buildings are located in the upper part of the Marnia valley. The Building 1 spreads over two floors above ground; on the lower floor there are two communicating garages and on the first floor a civil dwelling with access from an external staircase. It consists of a total surface of approx. 164.85 sqm. Terpini Building 2: The building spreads over two floors above ground with a living area on the lower floor, a sleeping area on the first floor and an attic. All consists of approx. 181.40 sqm. 8 Hotel under construction The Hotel construction started in the late 70s, located on the north of the Castle and has never been completed. Currently there is a skeleton-frame of reinforced concrete. This consists of four floors, one of which is partially a basement, and has a total surface of approx. 8.880 sqm. 9 Park As an expert and passionate botanist Ferdinando Panciatichi Ximenes d'Aragona planned the wide area surrounding the castle of approximately 65 hectares, the so-called historical park, and recreated the habitat for numerous seldom and exotic plants. The park held an enormous botanical treasure, created both by the great variety of imported plants, as well as by extraordinary domestic tree species. Amongst the imported species the best known are without doubt, the Californian sequoias. The most famous sequoia is the so-called “twin- sequoia”.