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solemnly ratified between the Florentine representa-
tives and the enemy’s commissioners, which treaty
was subsequently violated with the most glaring per-
fidy. — The renowned Francesco Guicciardini, indi¬
gnant at the ingratitude of the Medici, withdrew to this
Villa, where he resided during the remainder of his life,
and here he wrote his celebrated Storia d’ Italia. (1)
Leaving the tower, or Galileo’s Ob servatory, (2) go
on in the:
Pian dei Giullari, which commences behind the
neighbouring
Villa Miniati, and terminates at the isolated
Villa of the Pazzi (now Vanni.) — This suburb
is very celebrated in the history of Florence ; as it
was the head quarters of the Imperialists, during the
siege of Florence, which after the treason of Baglioni,
General of the Republic, passed under the power of
the Medici, notwithstanding the heroic efforts of Fran-
cesco Ferrucci, of the Strozzi, and many other distin-
guished patriots — Philibert of Chalons, Prince of
Orange, General-in-chief of the armies of Charles V
and Clement VII, resided in the Villa Guicciardini (on
(1) It is related that when Louis Bonaparte, afterwards NA¬
PoLEoN III, was on a visit to this villa, on one occasion, when
appearing more deeply absorbed in meditation than was his cu-
stom, having been interrogated by a friend as to the cause,
replied « I am thinking that one day I shall either become
emperor, or that I will lose my head. »
(2) This tower, rebuilt by the ancient family of Lamberteschi
during the siege of Florence in 1529-1530, was occupied by the
troops under the command of Count Pier Maria de Rossi, Colo-
nel of the Emperor Charles V, who strengthened the defences
of this strategic position by the addition of ramparts and entrench-
ments.
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