Wall collapse at Villa Medicea di Poggio a Caiano

On the evening of Monday, March 7, a 30-40 meter section of the perimeter wall of the Villa Medicea di Poggio a Caiano in Prato province collapsed. The villa, managed by the Polo Museale della Toscana under Stefano Casciu, is a UNESCO World Heritage site since 2013. Commissioned by Lorenzo de' Medici from Giuliano da Sangallo, construction began in 1485 but was interrupted after Lorenzo's death; his son, future Pope Leo X, completed it in the late 16th century. The villa houses monumental apartments, including the famous one of Bianca Cappello, and a hall named after Leo X with frescoes by Andrea del Sarto and Pontormo. Since 2007, it has hosted the Museo della Natura Morta with about 200 paintings from Medici collections. Surveys are underway to determine the exact cause of the collapse and assess damage.