Villa le Balze
Via Vecchia Fiesolana, 26 Fiesole
Villa le Balze
Via Vecchia Fiesolana, 26 Fiesole
In Via Vecchia Fiesolana, known for its wonderful and picturesque panoramic views, you will find Villa Le Balze, another symbol of Fiesole.
Designed in 1912 by architects Cecil Pinsent and Geoffrey Scott in the neo-renaissance style, it was born from the desire of Charles Augustus Strong, an American philosopher, and psychologist who, in the early 20th century, decided to move to Fiesole with his daughter Margaret after the death of his wife Elizabeth Rockefeller. In 1979, Margaret Strong Rockefeller, who had inherited the Fiesole villa, decided to honor her father’s wish to keep the Villa as a center for culture and scholarly , exchange by donating it to Georgetown University.
The purpose was to create a study center dedicated to him. The charm of the Villa also lies in its monumental garden, which, amidst flowered paths and rows of holm oaks, reveals a circular pool, a mannerist-style grotto with a fountain, and mosaics depicting portraits of philosophers in memory of the owner.
Via Vecchia Fiesolana, 26
lat. 43.80634 – long. 11.28786
Days and opening hours
First and third Wednesday of the month, except for the following closed periods: May; mid-July to first week of September; mid-December to mid-January.
From 2.00 PM to 5.00 PM
Booking procedure for visits
Send an email at least one week before the visit to the following email address: fo110@georgetown.edu
Contacts
E-mail: fo110@georgetown.edu
