A residence that has preserved the atmosphere of the period intact. Where one can breathe in the charm of the Risorgimento and its undisputed protagonist: Giuseppe Garibaldi, who stayed here on 8 August 1867, while he was preparing an expedition to the Papal States. This is the calling card of Villa Tinti di Petrazzi, which next weekend will open its doors on the occasion of the initiative promoted by the National Association of Houses of Memory, of which the residence is part.
Thanks to the availability of Leonardo Fabiani (owner), the Villa will be able to welcome visitors both on Saturday afternoon (2:00 p.m. – 6:00 p.m.) and Sunday (10:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. and 2:00 p.m. – 6:00 p.m.), accompanied by a guide who will lead them to discover the history and background of this dwelling and its illustrious guest (entrance 7€, reservations at +39 3334779163, or at the email casamemoriagaribaldi@gmail.com).
As will be recalled, the reasons that led Garibaldi to the small hamlet of Petrazzi have been rediscovered fairly recently.
At the time (August 1867), the owner of the Villa was Tommaso Giannini, who had distinguished himself in the recruitment campaign during the Third War of Independence (1866), and therefore represented – like Mayor Antonio Del Pela – a solid point of reference for the Garibaldi movement in the area. Thanks to the care and commitment of the owners who bought it later (from Onorato Tinti to Lore Fabiani, up to his nephew Leonardo), the Villa still has all the characteristics of a historical residence: its 19th-century furnishings, a truly precious collection of memorabilia of various types, and even some documents, including a letter that Giuseppe Garibaldi wrote on 6 June 1876 from the island of Caprera to thank ‘the friends of Castelfiorentino’. The Villa was also visited in 2019 by the great-granddaughter of the ‘Hero of Two Worlds’, Annita Garibaldi Jallet, who declared herself enthusiastic about its state of preservation.
The initiative on Saturday and Sunday enjoys the patronage of the Municipality of Castelfiorentino, which, in agreement with the property, has been committed for several years to enhancing the value of the Villa, including it in the national network of the Houses of Memory.
“The Villa Tinti di Petrazzi”, observes Culture Councillor Franco Spina, “represents a dwelling of great historical value, which we have been committed to enhancing since the first months of our mandate by organising an initial guided tour for the benefit of Enriques students, and by continuing our collaboration both with the property, which has always declared itself to be very open and willing, and with the National Association of Memory Houses. In the next few years, we will try to make a qualitative leap, offering our support so that it can enter the tourist circuits in a more stable manner”.