On the hillsides of Fiesole and Settignano, overlooking Florence, beautiful villas and gardens recall their former American, British and European expatriate residents from the late 1800s and early 1900s. Attracted by Florence’s artistic treasures and the Renaissance ideal of villa life, these independent and talented women made their homes here. This volume belongs to the series Our Hillsides: Women Expatriates and Their Villas and Gardens one the Hills of Florence 1890-1950 which aims to revive and enrich their memories by recounting their stories.

The first book in the series draws on Mary Berenson's extensive manuscripts to explore her transformation of the home she shared with her husband, art connoisseur Bernard Berenson, from a rustic farmhouse into The Harvard University Center for Italian Renaissance Studies. The essay highlights Mary's vibrant personality and provides a glimpse of the hillsides below Fiesole as the Berensons knew them, uncovering interesting personal and historical connections. It also suggests that Mary's guiding philosophy, the 'Golden Urn' principle, shaped her vision for Villa I Tatti, a place that attracted artists, writers, statesmen, and the affluent from around the world.