A rare chance for a Fly to Let investor to purchase a property converted from what was once one of the most exclusive spas in Europe is now available.

Until four years ago, the former thermal day spa of the Medici family in Florence had fallen on hard times. It had been lost for centuries and was being used as a garage.

Now, this long forgotten piece of Renaissance history has been rediscovered, fully restored as an awe-inspiring private retreat, and is for sale through independent real estate agency, Italian Property for €2,500,000.

The spa was originally set in the complex of gardens and buildings known as the Orti Oricellari, a magnet for some of the most powerful personalities in medieval Europe, from Machiavelli to Pope Leo X. However, after 400 years of neglect, the spa was in a serious state of disrepair.

The frescoes, inspired by Greek mythology and commissioned by Prince Giovan Carlo de’ Medici in the 17th century, had been damaged by mineral salts and moisture, and the walls were crumbling. But a team of master craftsmen - including fresco restorer Gioia Germani, famous for his work restoring the ‘Last Judgment’ by Vasari in Florence’s Duomo – have brought the building back to its former glory.

Modern comfort and convenience now sit side by side with Renaissance history. The main level features a brushed stainless steel and granite kitchen, a marble, chrome and glass bathroom, and plasma screen TVs strategically placed for viewing from all sitting areas. But the original washbasins, changing rooms and water spigots, dating from the 17th century, have been left in place and integrated into the overall design.

The mezzanine level is reached by an original spiral staircase that dates to the 1200s, where a bed and sunken whirlpool bath provide the perfect perspective for viewing the incredible Icarus frescoes on the ceiling above.

Kevin Park, marketing and development director, said: “Properties like this just don’t come onto the market very often. In its time, the spa was the most spectacular in Florence, and the restoration has succeeded in conserving this original character – and the breathtaking beauty of the frescoes. But the buyer doesn’t have to sacrifice luxury living for historical significance – all mod cons have been seamlessly integrated into this ‘lost’ Medici spa.”

Florence is revered as the birthplace of the Renaissance, with monuments and masterpieces by Donatello, Michelangelo, Botticelli and da Vinci found in some of the world’s finest museums – and on every street corner. More than a fifth of the world's renaissance art treasures can be found within one square mile in the city, which was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1982.

Florence has its own international airport, served by scheduled services by the major European carriers, and the airport at Pisa is less than one hour away. It is served by the A1 motorway between Milan and Rome, and on the main train line between Naples and Milan.

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