Villa Belpoggio
was built at the end of the 17th century by the Fiorilli
family, which owned vast amounts of land and properties
near Castelfranco di Sopra and Loro Ciuffenna.
The mansion, located at the centre
of a large estate, was bordered by the ancient Cassia
Vetus, a Roman road built in the 2nd century B.C., known
today as "Via dei Setteponti".
The 17th century foundations of the
Villa were built on top of the remains of a pre-existing
medieval watch-tower.
The wonderful broad vista that sweeps
from the Villa through the Arno Valley, confirms the
strategic importance of the primitive structure and
suggests that there must have been a strong connection
to the nearby castle of Persignano.
In 1692 the Fiorillis helped finance
the construction of the Oratory of Saint Joseph in the
rural village of Malva. Inside the church, built around
a revered 15th century tabernacle, the family coat of
arms of the first owners of Belpoggio is still preserved.
In the 18th century, the abbot Silvio
Fiorilli wanted a small chapel to be constructed next
to the main residence. This place of prayer accentuated
the beauty of the garden and completed the original
architectural scheme.
In late 1700, the Fiorillis sold part
of their property to the Rosi family. When Sir Francesco
Luigi di Carlo, the last heir of the Fiorilli family,
died around 1820, the Rosi’s became the sole owners
of Belpoggio. From that time on the Villa became known
as "Rosi Mansion".
In 1935 Gioconda Carresi Rosi bequeathed
her house and the family chapel, together with two farms,
to the "Serviti" friars. One year later the
religious "House of Saint Joseph at Bel Poggio"
was founded and the Villa is still named "the friary"
by the people living in the neighbourhood.
The House of Saint Joseph mainly became
a place of spiritual retreat for the friars.
In 1965 only two friars were living in Belpoggio and
the Serviti Order decided to transfer them to other
monasteries. For more than a decade or so, the House
was occupied during the summer only.
At the beginning of the 1980s, however,
the two farms were sold and in 1987, the friary was
sold, too, so that Belpoggio once again became a private
residence.
In 2001 the current owners bought
Belpoggio and began the painstaking work of restoring
the Villa. The challenges of restoring the 300 year-old-property
initially tested the owners, tempering their enthusiasm.
Steadily, however, as Belpoggio once again has recovered
her past beauty and her essence, the restoration effort
has become a deep passion. Today this elegant period
house has once again become what it was since the beginning
- a small paradise - to be shared by those who seek
rest and simple but elegant comfort in Tuscan hills.
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