We are in Florence, near the Via di Bellosguardo: one of the most scenic areas of the city, which is characterised by cobblestone streets and centuries-old trees.
Set in the heart of the Boschetto Gardens within the historic Villa Strozzi’s historic park, Villa Lo Strozzino was built in the 15th century as a gift to one of the sons of the eponymous Strozzi, one of Florence’s noble families, on the occasion of his marriage. According to the archives stored at the Palazzo Vecchio in Florence, the villa was designed by Il Cronaca (the renowned Florentine architect Simone del Pollaiolo), with the later addition of exquisite arches attributed to the celebrated stage designer Buontalenti who was a favoured architect of the Medici in the 16th century.
Today, this elegant ancient manse is home to sisters Ginevra and Ludovica Fagioli, the identical twins behind the semi-couture loungewear label Caftanii. The sisters have infused the beauty of their childhood home into their apparel, adding nuances to linen caftans, flounced skirts, silk dresses, and embroidered tops.
AN EXQUISITE EDUCATION
The Fagiolis moved into the villa when the twins were just two years old, and the girls lived like princesses in a castle, in rooms decorated like a scene from a fairy tale. While they were growing up, the twins were exposed to a more sober aesthetic that featured 19th-century boat beds and French furniture.