Florence’s dark side, brought to you by The Medici Dynasty Show
As Florence evolves from a city of the past into a city of the future, its identity is becoming more complex and multi-faceted. Behind its absolute beauty, Florence hides frightening secrets and legends in the heart of its historic streets and stones. Have you ever dreamt of interacting with a historical character, conversing with a ghost and learning all the secrets of the Medici Family? Here is your chance.
Villa Carmine
Not far from Florence in Calenzano, you’ll find Villa San Donato, better known as Villa Carmine. Commissioned by Carlo de’ Medici, the villa was built in 1460, and is said to be haunted by the spirit of Carlo de’ Medici’s wife. Legend holds that Carlo, under the influence of his father, poisoned his own wife and that she has never since abandoned the estate.
Isabella de’ Medici
The haunting beauty Isabella de’ Medici, daughter of Cosimo I de’ Medici, is known to have been a kind, educated woman of incomparable beauty. Economic and political interests of her family forced her to marry a brusque and violent man who was also a philanderer: Paolo Giordano Orsini, Duke of Bracciano. When her husband had to go away for a military campaign in 1576, Isabella, who was living in Rome with her two children at the time, came back to Florence. She was accompanied by Paolo’s cousin, Troilo Orsini, who was simply looking after her at first; but fate intervened and the two fell in love. Paolo Orsini inadvertently discovered their affair and on the 16th of July 1576, he demanded that his wife return to their Villa Medici in Cerreto Guidi. At night in the bedroom, he drew a rope tight around Isabella’s neck and ruthlessly strangled her, leaving her lifeless body hanging above the bed. Legend says that Isabella’s ghost appears recurrently in some of the places where she lived, but particularly in the Cerreto Guidi mansion.
Villa del Poggio Imperiale
The story goes that the restless spirit of Gian Gastone, the last Grand Duke of the Medici dynasty, is still wandering the corridors of the Villa Poggio Imperiale. When Gian Gastone died on the 9th of July 1737, his successor, Francis I, Duke of Lorraine, did not want to bury him with the other Grand Dukes in the Chapel of the Princes in San Lorenzo. Instead, he buried him in a hidden corner: in a drain in the crypt of the Medici Chapels. Lorraine wanted Gian Gastone to be remembered as depraved, lazy and an alcoholic. Legend has it that Gian Gastone, aware of Lorraine’s intentions, can be seen wandering the hallways of the villa, defending himself. History tells us that Gian Gastone had a highly developed sense of humor and was very intelligent. But you can meet Gian Gastone “in person” at The Medici Dynasty Show in the San Giovannino dei Padri Scolopi Library and decide for yourself.
