Official Information
Official website: https://villegiardinimedicei.it/villa-medicea-di-poggio-a-caiano/
Online tickets: https://www.coopculture.it/it/prodotti/biglietto-villa-medicea-della-petraia/
Address: Piazza dei Medici 14, 59016 Poggio a Caiano (PO), Italy
Map: View on Google Maps
Opening Hours
The monumental apartments and Museum of Still Life are generally open from Tuesday to Sunday roughly 08:15–17:00 (last entry about 30 minutes before closing); closed on Mondays and some holidays. The historic park currently has more limited access. Always verify current hours on the official MiC or Medici Villas websites, as timetables and accessible areas can change.
The Medici Villa of Poggio a Caiano is one of the key Renaissance country villas of Tuscany and part of the UNESCO-listed series of Medici Villas and Gardens. Commissioned by Lorenzo il Magnifico and designed by Giuliano da Sangallo at the end of the 15th century, it blends classical temple architecture with a residential villa plan, perched above the Ombrone valley between Florence and Prato. From the outside, the villa is recognizable by its wide central staircase, loggia with Ionic columns and triangular pediment, an early and influential example of the Renaissance ideal of a “temple-villa”. Inside, the noble floors preserve richly decorated ceremonial spaces that chart the transition from Medici to Lorraine and then Savoy rule. The Salone di Leone X is the highlight, with large allegorical and historical frescoes by Pontormo, Andrea del Sarto and Franciabigio celebrating Medici power and Florence’s role in the world. On the upper level, the Museo della Natura Morta (Museum of Still Life) showcases an extraordinary collection of Medici still-life paintings from the 16th to 18th centuries: trompe-l’oeil tables laden with fruit, flowers, exotic animals and curiosities that document both court taste and early scientific interests. The permanent displays are arranged thematically, so you can follow threads like botanical collecting or the arrival of new foods from overseas. Although the historical park has been undergoing phased restorations and may have restricted access, when open it offers lawns, groves and views over the surrounding countryside that help you understand the villa’s original setting as a working agricultural and leisure estate. Visits usually follow a fixed itinerary through the main apartments and museum, with staff on hand to supervise rooms and answer basic questions. For more in-depth interpretation, guided visits are sometimes offered in Italian, and the multi-villa combined tickets sold via CoopCulture are useful if you are also planning to see Petraia, Castello or Cerreto Guidi. Because this is a state museum, admission prices are modest, and on some national culture days entry may be free, making Poggio a Caiano a very good value stop for anyone interested in Medici history, painting and architecture.