By Beatrice Botticelli
Comprehensive management of exclusive parks and gardens taken to the next level. The Stefanacci family: “Call us your ‘green concierge’”.
There are difficult times that force us to make a choice: to give up, or to turn the obstacle into a springboard. For the Stefanacci family, who have been running Agraria Bartolini in Vaiano (Prato) for ten years, the 2023 flood represented a turning point but also an opportunity to redefine an entrepreneurial identity already rooted in the world of greenery and project it towards a broader horizon. A journey built on the experience gained through the family business, Agraria Bartolini, which has grown around a simple principle: offering quality products, expertise, a listening ear and ongoing support.
After the flood, which devastated buildings and stock, forcing a restart almost from scratch, the family decided not to limit themselves to rebuilding the shop, but to strengthen the services sector, sensing that this was where the future lay. It is from this point that, with enthusiasm and a desire to look ahead with optimism, Verdelegante was born – a project developed over the last two years and now in full swing.
“Our journey” explains Federico Stefanacci, “began by looking after small to medium-sized gardens, irrigation systems and mosquito control systems, and has rapidly expanded to parks, historic villas and prestigious properties”. The underlying concept is clear: not merely to offer the design, creation and maintenance of gardens and green spaces, but to build a relationship with the client based on trust, recognizing that green spaces require consistency and expertise, as well as the ability to understand how people wish to experience their own spaces.
At the heart of this evolution lies the next generation of the family: Federico’s son and daughter, Luigi and Chiara, with their distinct international outlook. Luigi, who studied in Florida for four years and obtained his bachelor degree in business administration, brings to the project the ability to understand the language and expectations of international partners. Chiara, with her degree in public relations, corporate communication and digital marketing from Iulm in Milan, defines a clearer, more contemporary identity, capable of engaging with architects, estate agents and private clients.
“Our distinguishing feature is not the classic ‘turnkey’ service, which is now widespread, but a constant presence that mirrors that of a personalised assistance”, explains Chiara Stefanacci. “The garden is followed, enhanced, and anticipated, with scheduled interventions that are never left to the last minute. This is why Verdelegante presents itself as a ‘green concierge’”. Ergo, not just design and maintenance but a constant presence that accompanies the client well beyond the completion of the project. That is precisely where the difference lies. Delivering a finished garden is only the starting point. What matters is what comes after: keeping it in line with the seasons, anticipating its needs, and taking care of it even when the owner is not there.
“An approach that appeals to a high-end clientele, often international, with second homes or historic residences in Tuscany” explains Luigi Stefanacci, “owners, often residing here only part of the year, who demand absolute reliability and management capable of taking care of every detail.”
The project has also grown thanks to a solid operational structure: architects, agronomists, landscaping professionals and project managers such as Simone Vitarini (an expert in garden care and maintenance), known for his work on complex sites. At the same time, the company has invested in professional technical equipment to handle projects of all scales, from private gardens to large historic parks. The distinctive element remains the method. “The projects don’t start solely from a drawing” explains Federico Stefanacci. “The context comes first. We analyse the soil, the available water, the potential for water recovery, botanical compatibility and the existing natural balance. Within this framework, sustainability is not just a slogan, but a method that consists in respecting what the landscape offers and building from it.”
A philosophy that enhances the aesthetics, whilst remaining grounded in respect for natural rhythms and the celebration of what each place already has. “We don’t just create green spaces: we teach people how to experience them” explains Luigi Stefanacci. “To rediscover the authentic rhythm of nature in every home.” A vegetable garden is situated where the wind best carries the scents; a botanical variety is chosen because it interacts with the landscape; continuous maintenance ensures the garden remains elegant and accessible in every season.
A prime example is Villa Philipson in Pistoia, a historic residence built in 1893 as a symbol of Renaissance style, overlooking the surrounding plain from the hillside. A space that blends modernity and grandeur, whose enormous stone staircases lead to the outdoor areas entrusted to Verdelegante by an English client: ten hectares of parkland and gardens, and over 3,500 olive trees. “Here, the work has involved a complete restoration of the historic park” explains Simone Vitarini, “beginning with the targeted clearing of the undergrowth and continuing with sustainable measures for rainwater harvesting”. Damaged trees have been replaced with large linden trees of a species and size compatible with the setting and, always with a view to respecting what was originally there, work is underway to enhance the ancient orchards and manage the vegetable garden, olive grove and agricultural areas. Future plans also include the creation of an Italian-style garden the family crest.
For Verdelegante, therefore, every choice is guided by a logic of balance: enhancing without forcing, integrating without altering, accompanying the landscape without overpowering it. “Born amidst the Tuscan hills, gardens and cypress trees, we have learnt that nature cannot be dominated: it must be listened to, interpreted and lived” concludes Chiara Stefanacci. “Ours is more than a brand: it is a way of looking at the landscape, of inhabiting it and safeguarding it: with elegance, respect and a modern, international vision.” And with natural ambition.
Info: Verdelegante / Tel. +39 366 256 0912 / customer@verdelegante.it / www.agrariabartolini.it