The History of the Harding Villa
As told by Count and Professor Mario Adorni Braccesi

The villa was constructed between 1450 and 1500 by a high-ranking member of the clergy from Florence who wanted to settle in the countryside. Upon the death of this prelate, the villa was bought by a local landowner who divided it into many little apartments of which, in turn, all were rented. Hence the nickname "Palazzaccio" (homely palace) was given. 

During the 1800's, the lawyer Francesco Adorni Braccesi, the uncle of my grandfather Giovanni, lived in his home at Piazza Strozzi n. 4 in Florence. He was a lawyer that worked for the Grand Duke of Tuscany. he was moved to buy a property in Scandicci, and included in the property was the so-called "palazzaccio."

Upon the death of my grandfather, Giovanni, and subsequently in 1957 at the death of my father, Ranieri, a few farms which included the so-called "palazzaccio" became my property. With the idea to go and live in the "palazzaccio", I began immediately to free it of its tenants in the hopes to restore it according to the original appearance.

Moving out the numerous tenants of "palazzaccio" was quite long and difficult, but in the end I was able to reach my objective.

I entrusted, therefore, the task of restoration of the building as it was in the 1500's to the Florentine architects emilio dori and giancarlo facchini. And so it was done, bringing back it's old look and using as much as possible the original structure and the old materials. even the iron banister of the staircase is original and antique. 

I lived intermittently in my villa on via Triozzi, but I couldn't establish myself there in any permanent way given my responsibilities at the university of Florence which didn't allow me to get away from the city very much. I decided, therefore, to sell and it was with great satisfaction that i was able to give my beautiful villa to Harding university. since then, i have recognized how beautiful, energetic, and enthusiastic are the American young people who gather there to appreciate the beauties of Italy.