A native of Krosno, Count Zygmunt Grzymała Bosniacki was a physician, botanist and palaeontologist. He stayed in Italy from 1873, and in 1881 married the writer Elisabeth née Rulikowska there. As Eliza Bosniacka and under the pseudonym Julian Moers of Poradowo, she wrote, among other things, historical dramas, also staged in Poland in her time, and several were also published in Italian. After arriving in Tuscany, the Count purchased land on Monte delle Fate between Asciano and Bagni di San Giuliano (now San Giuliano Terme), where he erected the magnificent Villa Belvedere amidst the large park he had established. A friend and guest of the Bosnians was the poet and sculptor Teofil Lenartowicz (who wrote several works and made sculptures there), as well as other Polish emigrants. The so-called Villa del Polacco is one of the least known Polish houses in Italy, which is also linked to the oblivion of the owner.

The choice of this location, in the vicinity of numerous thermal springs, was probably connected with the Count's balneological interests, having worked in Iwonicz, among other places, before leaving for Italy. The scientist subsequently carried out ichthyopaleontological research of great scientific importance in the area as far as the coastal town of Livorno; in 1882 Bosniacki co-founded the Societa Geologica Italiana and, as Sigismondo de Bosniaski, published much in Italy. However, he also maintained regular scientific contacts with Krakow.

Picturesquely situated on the "hill of fairies" (Monte delle Fate), the villa owed its name, Belvedere, to the extensive view of the surrounding hills and plains. The regular body of the building showed features of the mature Italian Renaissance, with the main accent being the symmetrically placed serliana on the first floor.

The palace, which was probably completed in 1881, had 12 rooms arranged over two floors, as well as underground rooms, essentially for the Count's collections. A road led to the property from the Asciano valley and from San Giuliano Terme. The palace was surrounded by a beautiful garden, once rich in rare plant species and fruit trees. There Bosnicki amassed an excellent book collection, rich scientific collections (calculated at 4,500 objects) and artistic collections, including antiquities from the Ukraine. Bosniacki's scientific collection was purchased by the University of Pisa in 1932. After the scientist's heirless death, the palace was owned by a neighbouring family who purchased it a year before his death. The further fate of the property is not established. Today the villa is in a semi-ruined state: the perimeter walls, part of the ground floor ceilings and some architectural details are preserved; the garden is completely feral.

On the Camposanto Suburbano Pisano in Pisa there is a monumental tomb of the couple with a bust of Elisabeth (who died in 1904; a work attributed to Teofil Lenartowicz, who was a friend of the family), a fresco of Our Lady of Czestochowa and the coats of arms of Poland and Lithuania.