A brief history of the Corsini

 

from Poggibonsi to Mezzomonte

The Corsini are an old and historical family of Florence.

 

They arrived there towards the end of the XII century, coming from the area of Poggibonsi and from the Pesa valley, between Siena and Florence. They immediately had considerable success in the XIV century as politicians, traders and church men in what at the time was the Repubblic of Florence. They gave to Florence 12 Priors and 47 Gonfaloniers of Justice, at the time the highest appointments in Florence.

 

Matteo (1322-1402) became rich at the Court of England, trading on wools, silk and fishes. He was a close friend to Petrarca. His cousin Giovanni became Seneschal of Armenia and Governor Rodi. Another cousin, Filippo (1334-1421) was a law expert, and active diplomat and was 5 times gonfalonier of Justice in Florence.

 

In 1371 the Corsini were granted by the Emperor of the Sacred Roman Empire the title of Count Palatine.

 

The Corsini, along with several other families in Florence, suffered from the financial crisis in 1343. They were not broken by it, and re-started again their activities, expanding their interest beyond commerce.

 

Andrea, bishop of Fiesole from 1349 until his death in 1373, was made Saint because of his life of penitence, meditation and restless help to poor. His brother Neri is a Blessed Soul.

 

Guido Reni - Sant Andrea Corsini

At the end of the XV century the political influence of the Corsini decreased, mainly because of the power seize by the Medici.

The prosperity of the Corsini continued.

 

Filippo (1538-1601) and Bartolomeo (1545-1613) increased consistently the wealth of the family thanks to their large and well organised web of commercial desks around Europe, connected with a very fast private postal service (a letter of Bartolomeo, who live in London, would need only 55 hours to reach Florence). They developed several banking and broker interests.

 

Their cousin, Cardinal Ottavio, hosted in 1620 a musical drama on his palace: some professors think that this is the first time a lyrical opera was presented.

 

During those years, the Corsini were granted the feuds of Sismano, Casigliano and Civitella.

 

In 1644 the Pope Urbano VIII granted the Corsini with the title of Marquis.

 

Lorenzo Corsini was made Pope with the name of Clemente XII (1730-1740). He founded the Museum Capitolini, and he commissioned (among other things) the Trevi fountain, the façade of San Giovanni in Laterano in Rome, and the majestic Corsini chapel dedicated to Saint Andrew Corsini, the façade of Santa Maria Maggiore, the Palazzo della Consulta, and also the ports in Anzio, Ravenna (port Corsini) and Ancona. He was the first one to ban the Freemasonry.

 

 

Bartolomeo (1683-1752) was commander in chief of the Roman Chivalry, President of the Cabinet of King Charles III in Naples, Vice-King of Sicily. He is also the first Prince of Sismano and Duke of Casigliano.

 

Neri (1771-1845) was a smart politicians, Secretary of the Grand Duchy of Tuscany both under Napoleon and under the restoration, and was the sole negotiator of the Habsburg-Lorena (at the time Grand Duke of Tuscany) and the Congress of Vienna.

 

Tommaso (1767-1856) was several times ambassador and senator of the Grand Duchy.

Andrea (1804-1868) was Ministry of Foreign Affairs for the Grand Duchy.

 

Tommaso (1835-1919) was MP of the Kingdom of Italy from 1865 to 1882, life senator and finally Major of Florence. He founded the “Fondiaria Assicurazioni”, was chairman of the Saving Bank of Florence and chairman of the Southern Italy Railways.

 

From Tommaso, who married Anna Barberini, descends the present Prince Corsini.  

 

 

 

A cadet branch of the Corsini

 

Andrea Neri (1849-1895), cadet brother of Tommaso, married with Beatrice Bastogi, daughter of count Piero Bastogi (Finance Secretary of State and MP during the first years of the new Kingdom of Italy. He was charged also of the development of the Southern Italy Railways).

 

Lorenzo (1875-1957), Marquis of Lajatico and Count Palatine, married Caterina Ricasoli Firidolfi, nephew of Bettino Ricasoli (the “Iron Baron”, Prime Minister of Italy right after the death of Cavour, several time War minister. He invented the grapes receipt for the Chianti).

 

Vanni (1911-1988), Marquis of Lajatico and Count Palatine, father of the present owner of Villa Corsini, married the Countess Olga Vassilievna Olsoufiev (1912-1973), daughter of Count Vassili Alexeevich and of Countess Olga Pavlovna Shouvalov. P.O.W (Prisoner of War) during WWII, he escaped from an English prison in Africa together with 4 comrades, pretending to be Officer J.A. Dickson, charged of the transfer of 4 prisoners. He eventually set free in Mozambique, after 3500 miles of escape. His son is the owner today of Villa Corsini.

 

 

 

Villa Corsini in the XXI century.

 

The current owner of the villa is the Marquis don Giovanni Corsini (1938), architect, married with Inès of Marquis d’Ormesson, and father of five children: Cosimo, Olga, Lorenzo, Eleonora and Tommaso.

To him and to his family belong the project to restore and save the Villa, a project started in 2000.

 

Villa Corsini a Mezzomonte

Via Imprunetana per Pozzolatico 116, 50023 Impruneta (Firenze).

Tel & Fax: 055 208078.

E-mail: info@villacorsini.com