The medieval home once owned by the family of the lady behind ‘Mona Lisa’ has hit the market at Sotheby’s for $19.6 million.
Located in the Scandicci countryside in Italy, the villa in question was first built sometime in the 14th century. By 1498, they were owned by the Giocondo family. This included lady Lisa del Giocondo, the woman famously depicted in and as the ‘Mona Lisa’. The family started living in the estate just a few years before Leonardo da Vinci painted his most famous work.
Situated on 66 acres of land, the villa itself sprawls across 43,000 square feet. There are 14 bedrooms and 15 bathrooms. There is also an entrance hall, a dining room, a library, five lounges, and a library. Additional amenities include staff quarters, an elevator, an antique iron veranda, and a terrace on the 2nd floor. Outside the villa, there is a house for the caretaker, a greenhouse, an orangery, and a few other buildings dedicated to agricultural purposes.
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Over the years, the structure has obviously undergone various renovations. However, some elements from the original construction still remain. This includes a private chapel, in the shape of a polygon, which bears key features of 17th-century architectural style. The listing mentions that the villa is currently owned and maintained by a family of industrialists from Florence, Italy (though it doesn’t name them). Diletta Giorgolo (head of realty, Italy Sotheby’s International Realty) said: “The villa is of particular artistic and historical significance and is registered with the Superintendence for Architectural and Landscape Heritage.”
