Built in 1893 by architect Riccardo Mazzanti, it bears the name of the engineer who designed it, Edoardo Philipson, as well as its former owner, although today, it is known as Villa Le Fontane.
A majestic mansion that, at the end of 2022, was sold to a British buyer, who relied on the professionalism of Dreamer Real Estate, which handled the purchase and sale negotiations, worth 17 million euros.
The History of the Villa
The idea for its realization followed the engineer’s desire to seek a style that reflected the Renaissance, a mix of modernity and magnificence, typical of the countryside residences of the Medici family.
It is interesting to discover that the signatures of the Italian architect, urban planner, and engraver Giovanni Michelucci have remained intact even today. He is considered one of the greatest Italian architects of the 20th century, known for designing the Santa Maria Novella station in Florence.
Taking on the task and becoming part of the construction team, he left his mark, placing his iconic signature “G. MICHELUCCI E FIGLIO – Pistoia 1893” in various architectural elements, such as the balcony balustrade on the south facade, or the railing along the park’s ascent and the entrance gates.
It was, in fact, the Officine Michelucci that introduced ironworks in Tuscany during those years.
The Exterior: A Glimpse of the Tuscan Nature
Villa Philipson is situated on the Tuscan hills, precisely in Vaioni, a hamlet of the Municipality of Pistoia, and despite its prominent position on the heights, it is not very visible from the city.
Engineer Philipson chose that location precisely to build a magnificent villa, rich in artistic finishes surrounded by a park of over 6 hectares: a green frame of olive groves, vineyards, and woods, with a long access avenue.
The estate dominates the entire Pistoia plain and still stands today as a testament to the aesthetic culture of the late century, with exclusive environments ready to host the high society of the time.
The country residence, created thanks to the collaboration of the most renowned artists and decorators active in Tuscany at that time, aimed to represent the splendor of the Medici era.
Given its location, the villa was, and still is, rich in water, flowing from two private springs and supplying the fountains, the pool, and the old internal elevator, as well as meeting the water needs of the garden and the residences.
The Interior: Where Art and Tradition Meet
There are many testimonies from that era that still today tell us in minute detail about the structure of the various rooms, highlighting the importance of the details.
The vaults were painted in the style of Poccetti and Vasari by the Florentine painter Baldancoli, while the magnificence of the other rooms was expressed in wooden paneling and doors with pediments carved by the artists Coppedè and Morini.
The floors, designed by Mazzanti, stand out as original models of decorative art: the multifaceted eclectic language is expressed again in the horseshoe-shaped stable, in rustic style, and in the various accessories of the kennel, the aviary, and the icehouse.
This prestigious property, rich in charm, appears as an ancient castle guarding and defending the lands below. The entire property covers about 50 hectares, while the mansion of 4500 square meters has a total of 35 rooms and 16 bathrooms.
The Millionaire Sale of 2022
Villa Philipson was on the market for many years, and it was at the end of 2022 that the negotiation, managed by Dreamer Real Estate, concluded in favor of an English Trust, led by a British entrepreneur.
A journey of satisfaction for the entire agency, which allowed the historic Villa to continue telling its own story.
