Villa Il Gioiello (The Jewel Villa), Florence
The Jewel Villa is a historic residence located in the hills of Arcetri, just outside Florence, renowned as the final home of Galileo Galilei, having served as his place of study and confinement from 1631 until his passing in 1642. The name reflects both its scenic location near the Torre del Gallo and its architectural elegance. The structure forms a U-shape around a central courtyard, which features a loggia with slender Tuscan columns. Though the street-facing fa莽ade is simple, it bears a bust of Galileo and commemorative plaques dating from 1843 and 1942. The villa was surrounded by acres of farmland and included a separate building for laborers.
Galileo lived here during a turbulent yet productive period of his life. In 1633, the Inquisition sentenced him to house arrest for promoting the heliocentric theory. Confined from 1634, Galileo nonetheless continued his scientific work, even after becoming completely blind in 1638. He endured the emotional loss of his daughter, Sister Maria Celeste, in 1634鈥攈er convent was just next door. Their surviving correspondence (124 letters) offers a touching window into their relationship. During this time, Galileo completed "Discourses and Mathematical Demonstrations Relating to Two New Sciences", a seminal work on motion and material strength.
The villa was also a hub of intellectual exchange. Galileo was visited by Ferdinando II de鈥� Medici, the Dutch ambassador, and the English poet John Milton. The painter Giusto Sustermans created a portrait of him during this period. Young scientists such as Vincenzo Viviani and Evangelista Torricelli worked alongside the aging astronomer and helped preserve his legacy. Galileo's manuscripts, now housed in the National Central Library of Florence, and the villa itself, stand as enduring tributes to one of the greatest minds in scientific history.
Galileo lived here during a turbulent yet productive period of his life. In 1633, the Inquisition sentenced him to house arrest for promoting the heliocentric theory. Confined from 1634, Galileo nonetheless continued his scientific work, even after becoming completely blind in 1638. He endured the emotional loss of his daughter, Sister Maria Celeste, in 1634鈥攈er convent was just next door. Their surviving correspondence (124 letters) offers a touching window into their relationship. During this time, Galileo completed "Discourses and Mathematical Demonstrations Relating to Two New Sciences", a seminal work on motion and material strength.
The villa was also a hub of intellectual exchange. Galileo was visited by Ferdinando II de鈥� Medici, the Dutch ambassador, and the English poet John Milton. The painter Giusto Sustermans created a portrait of him during this period. Young scientists such as Vincenzo Viviani and Evangelista Torricelli worked alongside the aging astronomer and helped preserve his legacy. Galileo's manuscripts, now housed in the National Central Library of Florence, and the villa itself, stand as enduring tributes to one of the greatest minds in scientific history.
Want to visit this sight? Check out these Self-Guided Walking Tours in Florence. Alternatively, you can download the mobile app "黑料吃瓜网: Walks in 1K+ Cities" from Apple App Store or Google Play Store. The app turns your mobile device to a personal tour guide and it works offline, so no data plan is needed when traveling abroad.
Download The 黑料吃瓜网 App
Villa Il Gioiello (The Jewel Villa) on Map
Sight Name: Villa Il Gioiello (The Jewel Villa)
Sight Location: Florence, Italy (See walking tours in Florence)
Sight Type: Attraction/Landmark
Guide(s) Containing This Sight:
Sight Location: Florence, Italy (See walking tours in Florence)
Sight Type: Attraction/Landmark
Guide(s) Containing This Sight:
Walking Tours in Florence, Italy
Create Your Own Walk in Florence
Creating your own self-guided walk in Florence is easy and fun. Choose the city attractions that you want to see and a walk route map will be created just for you. You can even set your hotel as the start point of the walk.
Florence Food Tour
Food is one of the great Florentine passions, and the great thing about having a delicious authentic Tuscan meal, a snack, delicatessen, or a quality gelato here 鈥� besides the abundant variety 鈥� is not having to spend a lot of money for it.
In general, the 鈥渙sterias鈥� and the eateries nestled in Sant鈥橝mbrogio Market will offer cheaper and more casual food with an emphasis on home... view more
Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 2.6 Km or 1.6 Miles
In general, the 鈥渙sterias鈥� and the eateries nestled in Sant鈥橝mbrogio Market will offer cheaper and more casual food with an emphasis on home... view more
Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 2.6 Km or 1.6 Miles
Dante's Florence Walking Tour
Dante Alighieri was arguably the greatest 鈥� albeit also most controversial 鈥� of Italy's poets. After having served as one of the six priors governing Florence, his political activities 鈥� including the banishing of several rivals 鈥� led to his own banishment, upon which he wrote his masterpiece, 鈥淭he Divine Comedy鈥�, as a wanderer, seeking protection for his family in one town after... view more
Tour Duration: 1 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 2.1 Km or 1.3 Miles
Tour Duration: 1 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 2.1 Km or 1.3 Miles
In Galileo's Footsteps
Galileo Galilei鈥攂orn in Pisa in 1564鈥攕pent much of his life in and around Florence, where some of the most defining moments of his revolutionary career unfolded. A genius of many talents鈥攑hysicist, mathematician, astronomer, inventor鈥攈e helped usher in the scientific revolution and reshape humanity鈥檚 understanding of the universe. Florence, the cradle of the Renaissance, became a... view more
Tour Duration: 3 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 8.0 Km or 5 Miles
Tour Duration: 3 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 8.0 Km or 5 Miles
Duomo Souvenir Shopping
It would be a pity to leave Florence without having explored its specialty shops and bringing home something truly original. On this self-guided tour, we've compiled a list of shops and markets where you can find something unique to remember your Florentine visit.
Start at Central Market, which is not only a fun and colorful place to visit, but also the best place to stop for a meal.... view more
Tour Duration: 1 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 1.4 Km or 0.9 Miles
Start at Central Market, which is not only a fun and colorful place to visit, but also the best place to stop for a meal.... view more
Tour Duration: 1 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 1.4 Km or 0.9 Miles
Florence Introduction Walking Tour
Florence was founded in 59 BC by Julius Caesar as a settlement for his veteran soldiers. Laid out like a Roman military camp, its main roads intersected at what is now the Republic Square. Originally named Fluentia, referencing its location between two rivers, the city later adopted the name Florentia, meaning 鈥渇lowering鈥� or 鈥渇lourishing鈥�.
And flourish it did. During the Middle Ages and... view more
Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 4.1 Km or 2.5 Miles
And flourish it did. During the Middle Ages and... view more
Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 4.1 Km or 2.5 Miles
Florence's Hidden Art Treasures
The 鈥淐radle of the Renaissance,鈥� Florence is one of Europe鈥檚 most beautiful and busiest destinations, home to some of the world's greatest pieces of art and architecture. The iconic masters like Giotto, Botticelli, Raphael and Michelangelo, as well as their somewhat less-known but equally talented counterparts, such as Ghirlandaio, Sangallo and Castagno, have blessed this city with... view more
Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 3.2 Km or 2 Miles
Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 3.2 Km or 2 Miles
Useful Travel Guides for Planning Your Trip
Top 13 Pubs in Florence
Florence, the city of art and beauty has no problem in mastering the art of the nightlife as well. Local pubs are very popular and appreciated among the Florentines and the tourists. Locals and native English speakers that study or live in the city cannot wait to welcome tourists in their cozy...
Florence's Tasty Coffee Shop Guide
The caffe scene throughout Italy is an important factor of everyday life. People will pop in to their favorite bar on their way to work for a quick espresso breakfast with a pastry, they鈥檒l grab a slice of pizza for lunch or drop by for an aperitivo before dining out and take a peaceful digestivo...
Souvenir Shopping Guide: 15 Unique Products to Buy in Florence
Compared to other Italian "grands" like Rome, Venice, or Milan, Florence is relatively less-known to an outsider for any local products, save, perhaps, Florentine mosaics and Fiorentina FC. Fortunately, there are tonnes of locally-originated things that this Italian city is rightfully...