Torre di Bellosguardo

23 centrally and hierarchically above the others. Although the word Caritas does not appear explicitly in the inscriptions, the entire iconographic structure revolves around this theme. THE ROMANTIC REINVENTION (NINETEENTH CENTURY) In the nineteenth century, within the climate of Romantic medieval revival, the villa underwent decorative modifications, including neo- medieval architectural insertions and heraldic embellishments. Some elements were authentic restorations; others were imaginative recreations of an idealised Florentine past. A COSMOPOLITAN SALON At the end of the nineteenth century the villa was rented by Lady Walburga Paget, wife of the British ambassador. Under her influence, Bellosguardo became a refined cultural salon frequented by members of the European aristocracy and artistic circles. 1913: THE FRANCHETTI ERA BEGINS On 16 March 1913, the property was sold by the Roti Michelozzi family to Baroness Marion von Hornstein Franchetti (right), wife of Baron Giorgio Franchetti. After their separation, Marion moved to Florence, where she fell in love with Torre di Bellosguardo and made it her home. Baron Giorgio Franchetti, grandfather of the present owner Amerigo Franchetti, owned the Ca’d’Oro inVenice, which he carefully restored and enriched with works of art before donating both the palace and its collection to the Italian State. During Marion’s time at Torre di Bellosguardo, bathrooms were added to the principal rooms, a lift was installed, and the villa was adapted to accommodate distinguished paying guests, while preserving its historic atmosphere. A passion for restoring and reviving historic buildings has remained a distinctive trait of the family. Amerigo Franchetti has continued this tradition, dedicating himself to the careful preservation and revival of Torre di Bellosguardo. LUIGI FRANCHETTI: MUSIC AND THE YEARS OF EDUCATION Upon his mother’s death, the villa passed to her son Luigi Franchetti. Luigi — affectionately known as Luigino—was a refined and gifted pianist, deeply connected to the artisticworld of his time. Facedwith the responsibility of maintaining such a vast and layered property, he chose to keep it alive by opening it to education. TheTorrediBellosguardowasrentedtoprestigiousinstitutions, includingSarahLawrenceCollegeand the International School of Florence.When Luigino died, theTower once again stood at a crossroads. AMERIGO’S DECISION: SELL OR SAVE? Upon Luigi’s death, his son Amerigo Franchetti faced a decisive choice. To sell the property — or to save it? Together with his then wife, Michelle, he chose restoration. In 1988 the Torre di Bellosguardo opened as a hotel. TODAY: A CONSCIOUS VISION Today the property remains in the care of Amerigo Franchetti and his secondwife Ana. Their philosophy is to preserve the villa’s historic atmosphere, to maintain its irregularities andpatina, and to resist the standardisation that has transformedmany historic residences into impersonal luxury environments devoid of character. Here, the view over Florence remains unchanged. The frescoes continue to speak of Charity.The tower still rises—not as a fortress, but as a thirteenth-century hunting lodge that became a Renaissance villa and survived because someone chose not to let it disappear.