By the 18th and 19th centuries Villa Le Maschere was considered one of the most beautiful Tuscan villas. Le Maschere was a favourite stop for popes (Pius IX in 1857), sovereigns (Carlo Emanuele IV King of Sardinia in 1801, King Carlo Felice in 1821), as well as many renowned noblemen and artists. A painstaking restoration lasting 5 years, executed in accordance with the Soprintendenza per i Beni architettonici di Firenze (Superintendent of Architectural Property of Florence), has brought Villa le Maschere back to new life