In occasione delle celebrazioni dedicate al Gran Tour e alla conferenza 'Donne in viaggio' incentrata sulla straordinaria figura di Laura T. Merrick e Elisabeth B. Browing, la Villa di Papiano apre eccezionalmente le sue porte al pubblico!
Un'opportunità unica per immergersi nelle atmosfere cosmopolite di fine Ottocento, esplorare le sale che ospitarono la celebre mecenate statunitense.

The 'Villa dell'Americana' is a building constructed in the 16th century, which belonged to the rich and powerful Torrigiani family, modified at the end of the 19th century by will of the then owner, the American Laura Merrick. The lady helped the people of the small village a lot, for example she gave funds for the restoration of the church of S. Stefano, expanded the lands of her estate and gave work to many inhabitants. Furthermore, in 1911, she established a school of lace and women's work which had the aim of introducing in Italy a subsidiary industry for women who did not have constant work.

The villa, a compact but elegant building, also has a basement, large cellars and numerous service rooms and is spread over three floors and ends with a raised floor consisting of a graceful loggia open on all sides and furnished with round arches resting on slender columns. Inside, the clothes that belonged to the American noblewoman are still preserved.

Inside Laura's apartment, dark wooden and richly carved furnishings predominate, along with the inclusion of mirrors and tapestries, heraldic emblems, as well as a widespread eclecticism due to collections of various kinds (Chinese furniture, Murano glass, small antiques).

Papiano was Laura's spring-summer residence. From October to April all the service personnel followed her to Florence, where she had purchased a small building along the Mugnone torrent.

Upon Laura Merrick's death in Florence on July 4, 1926, there being no direct descendants, the inheritance of the villa passed to her nephew John Vaughan Merrick II, son of her brother John Vaughan Merrick. In 1955 JV Merrick III sold the property to Mauro Venturini, father of the current owner.