THE HISTORY

THE FIRST WRITTEN DOCUMENT ABOUT VINCIGLIATA IS A CONTRACT THAT WAS REGISTRED IN THE ARCHIVES OF FLORENCE IN THE YEAR 1.031, BY THE FAMILY VINSDOMINI, THEN THE OWNERS. LATER, IT PASSED TO THE FAMILY ALESSANDRI I WHO HAD IT FOR SOME THREE HUNDRED YEARS. I THE DECLINE STARTED IN THE 17TH CENTURY, THE CASTLE WAS SOLD, GAM­BLED AWAY AND GRADUALLY WENT TO RACK AND RUIN. IN 1840 LORD JOHN TEMPLE LEADER WAS EXPLORING THE HILLS OF FIESOLE, WHEN HE CAME UPON THE OVERGROWN RUIN OF A MEDIEVAL CASTLE. HE IN­ STANTLY FELL IN LOVE WITH IT AND DECIDED TO RESTORE IT TO ITS FORMER GLORY. OF THE MANY STORIES HE UNCOVERED, SIR JOHN ESPECIALLY COVETED THE ONE ABOUT DONNA BIANCA. SIR JOHN DECIDED THAT VINCIGLIATA WAS A PERFECT PLACE TO HOST HIS MANY NOBLE FRIENDS. WITH HELP OF A YOUNG ARCHITECT FAN CELLI, HE STARTED THE DAUNTING TASK OF RESTORATION. IN PURE SPIRIT OF RENAISSANCE PATRONAGE, HE COMMISSIONED 80 MASONS, ARTISANS, SCULPTORS, GLASSMAKERS ANDANTIQUARIANS AND WITH THEIR HELP, VINCIGLIATA WAS REBORN AFTER 10 YEARS OF WORK. TODAY, CASTELLO DI VINCIGLIATA CONTINUES IN THE SPIRIT OF SIR JOHN TEMPLE LEADER, AS A PLACE OF INSPIRATION ANO A CENTRE FOR ALL KINDS OF SOCIAL ANO CUL TURAL GATHERINGS, CREATING UNFORGETTABLE EVENINGS WITHIN ITS MAGIC ATMOSPHERE.