An elegance shaped through the centuries

Santi Landini, a renowned publisher and member of Florence’s aristocracy, chose the banks of the Arno for his summer residence. Thus, Villa La Massa was born: a Renaissance villa destined to preserve centuries of elegance and history.

After more than two centuries under the Landini family, Villa La Massa became the property of Cardinal Giovanni Rinuccini — a leading figure in 18th-century Florence. With this change, the villa began a noble transformation that would enrich both its architecture and its identity.

The Cardinal’s nephew, Alessandro Rinuccini, inherited the estate and launched an elegant expansion project. Four corner towers were added, the central staircase was enlarged, and the private chapel redesigned according to the prevailing style of the time.

Lady Catherine Hombert Ruffié Planche, a refined presence in Florence’s cultural scene, acquired the villa. She is credited with introducing the frescoes recently rediscovered on the ground and second floors, painted in delicate pastel shades — including the renowned “Monsieur Guinet blue,” a fashionable pigment from a celebrated Parisian colour merchant.

In 1856, Countess Bierliska — daughter of Grand Marshal Count Conusza Brobinskym — purchased the estate. Alongside families such as the Demidoffs and the Boutourlines, the Brobinskyms were part of the Russian aristocracy that settled in Florence at the end of the 18th century.

With its acquisition by the American Sears family, Villa La Massa embraced a new purpose: from private residence to exclusive hospitality retreat. The Sears transformed the villa into a hotel de charme, preserving its historic character while introducing a cosmopolitan spirit that, in the years to follow, would attract celebrated figures from around the world — including Gregory Peck, Winston Churchill, Barbara Hutton, Elizabeth Taylor and Richard Burton.

In 1992, David Bowie and Iman chose Villa La Massa as the intimate, extraordinary setting for their wedding, reserving the entire estate for the occasion.

Since 1998, when the Villa d’Este Group acquired the estate, Villa La Massa has undergone a meticulous restoration, enhancing its Renaissance soul and architectural elegance.

Today, this historic estate stands as a benchmark for those who wish to experience Florence in a setting of timeless charm — immersed in the discreet, authentic luxury of true Tuscan hospitality.