An Inside Look at Villa Michelangelo

Debbie Fisher, Owner of Handsome Properties International, and Annie Young, Property Consultant with Handsome Properties International, recently visited Villa Michelangelo and received a personal tour of the villa from the owners. During their visit, they learned some interesting facts about the property such as how the current owners discovered the property and traced it all the way back to Michelangelo’s time of purchase. The original oil press and mill stone dating back to around the 1500s also remain on the property in untouched condition. While touring the property, Debbie and Annie learned how much the current owners love the estate and consider themselves stewards of the home instead of “owners.”

Villa Michelangelo is owned by an Italian couple that purchased the property in the 1970s, making them the third owner since Michelangelo himself. The couple lived full-time on the property for over 20 years and during this time, lovingly restored the estate to its former glory. They now live in Florence and spend their summers at the villa. The estate is comprised of a main villa (connected to the main tower that dates all the way back to 1047) and two private apartments, each with its own kitchen and separate entrance. The third floor of the main villa has been left unrestored, allowing the future owner to remodel the space to their liking. Adjacent to the main villa are two additional buildings, one used as storage and another with storage on the ground floor and a two-bedroom apartment on the top floor. The balcony from this apartment offers breathtaking views of the rolling hills of Tuscany and is the perfect place to enjoy a good book or glass of wine al fresco!

The estate is composed of roughly six acres and is surrounded by chianti vineyards. On the estate are lemon groves and a historically protected garden that they believe was once a vegetable garden. During the visit, the owners explained how the current driveway was once an Etruscan commerce road and still remains on current maps of Italy due to it’s historical significance. Apparently one day while the owner’s grandson was playing in the backyard, he discovered an ancient figurine! Through a friend that works in the archaeological field, they were able to date the figurine back to the early B.C. era! When the owners purchased the home, they had heard around town that the villa was once owned by Michelangelo, but there was not any evidence to prove such claims. When the husband retired, he decided to dedicate some time to researching the history of the property, starting at the village’s church, where they used to pay property taxes. After looking through old records and archives, the owner was able to trace the deed back to when Michelangelo purchased the property in 1549! This discovery was extraordinary and after going through the due processes, the owner was able to have the property placed on the historical registry of Italy in 2014. The owners hold copies of the original deed and the original deed itself resides in a museum in Florence.

Towards the end of the visit, Debbie and Annie were able to sit down and discuss with the owners who they envisioned the future buyer would be. As they sipped their cool beverages on the shady terrace overlooking the gently rolls hills of Tuscany, they were captivated by the owners’ response. The answer was very simple: they wanted the new owner to love the property as much as they do. The owners believe that they are not the “owners” of the property but rather “stewards” of a sacred piece of history and they are looking for someone to whom they can pass the torch onto, so to speak. They believe that whoever has the same love and appreciation for the property will continue to preserve and protect the former home of Michelangelo. It was a moving moment and made everyone at the table realize that this wasn’t just a piece of real estate, but a true piece of history that is much bigger than any of them.

For more information on Villa Michelangelo, contact [email protected].