The Library

The Library held a special place in the hearts of the noble families who resided at Villa I Busini over the years, as books were an integral part of Renaissance lives.

The Peruzzi family who owned the Villa from 1776 to 1935, patrons of the arts, were not only close friends with Dante Alighieri, the prominent 1400s poet, but also sponsored Giotto while Barone Pietro Andrea Andreini, son of the Duchessa Maria Busini, was an avid writer whose many works of literature still survive today.

Edith Story, Marchesa Peruzzi de Medici, wife of Simone Peruzzi de Medici, who became owner of the Villa in 1846, was the daughter of American poet and sculptor, William Wetmore Story (1819–1895), and a writer herself. She was also close friends with poetic genius, Robert Browning and the great English novelist, Henry James, who collaborated with Edith and her family when he wrote the biography of her father, William Wetmore Story & His Friends. 

Today, we continue to uphold the tradition and pay our respects to Renaissance history by collecting period books for the Villa I Busini Library. 

Intimate and welcoming, The Library features a gold leaf background, regal chairs, and a prized collection of Renaissance literature. It's the perfect place to browse through history and delight in a foregone—but not forgotten—time.