Villa Chigi Saracini opens monumental garden to public after two centuries

After over 200 years as a private estate, Villa Chigi Saracini in Castelnuovo Berardenga, Chianti, opens its monumental garden to the public for the first time on June 6, 2026, following acquisition by the municipality. The neoclassical villa, designed by architect Agostino Fantastici in 1834, features a three-hectare romantic park with winding paths, panoramic views, and a neoclassical Kaffeehaus with Doric columns. The garden was later enriched by Count Guido Chigi Saracini, founder of the Accademia Musicale Chigiana in Siena, who commissioned sculptor Tito Sarrocchi to create monuments dedicated to composers, including a column for Michelangelo Buonarroti and a marble fountain. On June 7, the Museo del Paesaggio opens the exhibition "Armonie in Villa: Guido Chigi Saracini mecenate delle arti," curated with Vernice Progetti Culturali, running free until August 31, 2026. The villa will host cultural activities, educational programs, and events including the return of the Bruscello, Chianti Festival, and collaborations with the Accademia Musicale Chigiana. Guided tours of the park are available every weekend throughout the summer.