With the unification of Italy and the relocation of the kingdom’s capital to Florence in 1865, the residences that had belonged to the Grand Dukes of Tuscany became the new home of the Italian monarchs, the Savoy family. Palazzo Pitti and the countryside villas were transformed to suit the taste of the King of Italy and to suitably host his entire court. Villa Petraia still bears witness to the presence of Vittorio Emanuele of Savoy and his morganatic wife, Rosa Vercellana.
In 1847, in the province of Racconigi in Cuneo, 25-year-old Vittorio Emanuele of Savoy, the heir to the Kingdom of Sardinia, was engaged in one of his favorite activities: hunting. It is said that despite the efforts of his father, Charles Albert, and his mother, Maria Theresa of Austria, the future King Vittorio Emanuele was not inclined towards state affairs and preferred to dedicate himself to riding, hunting, and romantic adventures. Although the prince had been married since 1842 to Maria Adelaide of Austria, with whom he had four children in four years, this did not stop him from repeatedly betraying his noble wife, whom he called “my saint.” During this hunting trip at the royal residence of Racconigi, the future king saw the beautiful Rosina for the first time, the 14-year-old daughter of Giovan Battista Vercellana, a former non-commissioned officer of the Piedmontese army employed by the king. From this moment on, a passionate and well-known love story began, which was never hidden, resulting in two children, Vittoria and Emanuele Alberto, and lasting until the king’s death.
In 1849, during the First Italian War of Independence, King Charles Albert abdicated in favor of Vittorio Emanuele, who then led the Second and Third Wars, earning the title of King of Italy in 1861. Meanwhile, in 1855, his wife Maria Adelaide died giving birth to their eighth child at just over 30 years old. Count Camillo Benso di Cavour, terrified by the idea that Vittorio Emanuele might marry his commoner lover, tried to arrange a second marriage with one of the many available grand duchesses, but without success. Vittorio Emanuele had no intention of sidelining his beloved companion. In 1859, he conferred upon her the title of Countess of Mirafiori and Fontanafredda to quell the discontent caused by her humble origins. When the capital of the new Kingdom of Italy moved from Turin to Florence in 1865, Rosina Vercellana moved to Villa Petraia, the splendid Medici residence on the outskirts of Florence.
Rosa Vercellana was banned from official residences, but Petraia was the ideal place for the couple to live apart from the court, dedicate themselves to hunting and games (still present in the billiard room), and organize grand celebrations. On the evening of September 1, 1872, the engagement party between the couple’s son, Emanuele di Mirafiore, and Bianca de Larderel, the granddaughter of the French entrepreneur François Larderel, who made a fortune in the 19th century exploiting boric acid springs in Tuscany, was celebrated here. For this event, a glass and steel cover was created for the beautiful courtyard frescoed in the Medici times, transforming it into an elegant ballroom for all the guests. A huge chandelier hangs from the center of the ceiling, while the floor was covered with a “Venetian” mosaic.
The rooms on the first floor have preserved all the furnishings from the Savoy era. The elegant bedroom of Bella Rosina features blue silk covering the walls, with roses that allude to the name of the owner. The billiard room is particularly impressive, with tables and furniture that reflect the king’s desire for a more secluded life, away from the court, dedicated to the pleasure of hunting and recreational games.
With the capital moving from Florence to Rome in 1871, Petraia lost its role as a royal residence but still holds the memories of one of the most famous love stories in our country’s history.
Floe – Florence Local Experts
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