Declared UNESCO World Heritage in 2013, the Medici villa of Petraia was a suburban residence and refuge for the Grand Dukes of the Medici family, allowing them to get away from the city. Indeed it is one of the most charming Medicean villas for its beautiful landscape, for the excellence of the paintings and for the lush nature of the park. The Villa, owned by Cosimo I de’ Medici from the first half of the 16th century, stands with its distinctive tower in a dominant position overlooking the slopes of Monte Morello descending towards the plain with a marvellous view over Florence. The formal garden develops on three terraced levels, exploiting the site slope: the level of the parterres, the nursery level and the level of the “figurina” and retains the geometric space of the original 16th century garden.  The courtyard of the villa, enclosed with glass in the 19th century, is decorated with frescoes by Volterrano and Cosimo Daddi that celebrate the splendours of the Medici family. The rooms host the famous Venere-Fiorenza sculpture by Giambologna, and a marvellous sculptural group by Ammannati depicting Hercules and Antaeus that previously decorated the fountains in the Garden of the Medici Villa at Castello. Also of note is the display of 14 lunettes by Giusto Utens, valuable documents depicting all the Medicean Villas and gardens frozen in time.