Villa Auditore
The Villa Auditore was a familial home and stronghold of the Auditore family, located within the city of Monteriggioni, in Tuscany. Constructed in 1290, the Villa was purchased and renovated by Domenico Auditore some time after a Florentine attack in 1320. It remained the home to the Auditore family up until the turn of the 16th century, when it was heavily damaged during the Siege of Monteriggioni.
During the ownership of Mario Auditore, the Villa became rundown and in desperate need of repair; but the arrival of his nephew – Ezio Auditore da Firenze – in 1476, heralded a rebirth for not only the Villa, but the city of Monteriggioni as well.
History
Constructed in 1290, in 1320 a Florentine attack left the facade damaged. Some time after the death of Dante Alighieri in 1321, Domenico Auditore purchased the Villa and subsequently erected a new facade and added a painting gallery to the interior.[1] Domenico redesigned the Villa not only as a home, but as a fortress and training ground for the town. The building itself was filled with hidden compartments and rooms, whilst the grounds catered to a number of different uses.[1][2] Later, Domenico constructed the Auditore Family Crypt; although initially unconnected, the construction of an escape route from within the Villa brought the two constructions together.[3][2]
By 1436, the Villa hosted the newest generation of Auditore assassins; the brothers Mario and Giovanni. Following the death of their father and Giovanni's departure for Florence, Mario became the sole ruler of Monteriggioni and resident of the Villa in 1454. Despite his love for the Villa, it fell into disrepair along with the city it protected, due to him spending his money on war and mercenaries.
In 1476, Mario's nephew, Ezio Auditore da Firenze, as well as his mother and sister, came seeking refuge in Monteriggioni. Following the execution of his father and brothers, Ezio had become notorious in Florence. Ezio intended to take his mother and sister to Spain, to Mario's protest.[1]
Ezio decided to stay instead in Monteriggioni and seek revenge on those responsible for the execution. Ezio became, in effect, co-ruler of Monteriggioni, and was the one responsible for the renovation of the town.[1]
Although the exact length of time it took for the Villa to be rebuilt is unknown, by late December 1499 it was once again an opulent structure, as well as the headquarters of the Assassin Order in Italy.
However, on January 2, 1500, the Papal forces led by Cesare Borgia besieged Monteriggioni, thus devastating the town and Villa and killing Mario.[2] The Villa was abandoned for at least seven years, as Ezio, his now elderly mother and sister left the ruins of Monteriggioni to wage war against the House of Borgia in Rome.
Sometime before 1554, possibly in Ezio's lifetime, the Auditore seized their control back over Monteriggioni, presumably repairing the Villa, too. In 1554, however, the Auditore were betrayed by Giovannino Zeti, keeper of the garrison and a Florentine exile, who gave the keys of the city to the Medici. The Medici conquered Monteriggioni, though they allowed the Auditore to continue ruling the city due to the families' good relationship.[1]
On September 9, 2012, Desmond Miles, Lucy Stillman, Rebecca Crane and Shaun Hastings set up a temporary base of operations within the Sanctuary beneath the Villa Auditore. By this stage, the Villa had fallen to disrepair once again. During their stay, the Assassins lived within the Villa, coming out only to collect provisions and before leaving for Rome on October 10.[2]
Rooms
The Villa Auditore had a multitude of rooms, some hidden.[1] Below is a list of known rooms;
- Main hall
- The Armory, with a room dedicated to weapons and armor each
- Mario's study
- Maria's room
- Painting gallery
- Ezio's room and study
- The Assassin's Sanctuary
Appearances
Gallery
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Mario's Study Room, Present time.
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Armor Room. -
Main Hall.
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Ezio's room.
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Assassin Sanctuary. -
Painting gallery.
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Maria's room.
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Mario's study in the 21st century.
Notes and references
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