Holiday Villas for visits to Lucca

Four centuries ago, Michel de Montaigne wrote in his Journal de Voyage "I have views of the villas were very nice about the city, three or four miles, with porches and balconies that they give great ornament." As the great French writer, who has occasion to travel to Lucca, you can admire the architectural gems that make this natural amphitheater surrounded by hills.

More than three hundred are the villas that are part of a heritage of inestimable value, until the arrival of the railway network were the only significant presence outside of civilian residences in the province.

Built mostly by rich merchants of Lucca, these "palaces in the country" have been used mainly as a building representative constantly embellished and enlarged not only indoor air but also in the gardens where, according to the Renaissance, were built during the sixteenth century, nymphaea, lemon groves, fountains, grottos and other creations aimed at entertainment and aesthetic enjoyment. But they were not just places of entertainment these villas are often held where agricultural activities, closely linked to the production of silk for a long time that made the fortune of the bourgeoisie lucchese. Thereafter, the villas preserved an important economic role as security financial solvency, to become with the decline of the Republic Lucchese mere places of magnificence that bore witness to the prestige of their owners.

• Villa Ada in Bagni di Lucca
• Villa Bernardini
• Villa Borbone delle Pianore
• Villa Grabau
• Villa Mansi
• Villa Oliva
• Villa Reale di Marlia
• Villa del Vescovo
• Villa Torrigiani Villa Ada in Bagni di Lucca

  Built on a late Renaissance, the villa has an irregular plan as it includes several buildings built over time, including for example, two high hexagonal towers are an nineteenth. At the base of the middle opens up a wide porch, while the upper floors some balconies overlook the park.

  It is a great romantic style park, with artificial caves in limestone, wrought iron railings in the shape of intertwined branches and even traces of arbours, architectural structures formed by plants of bay, covered with branches and leaves some stone seats.

  Already building for seasonal family lucchese De Nobili and later residence of the British consul Sir Mac Bean, the building now houses a renowned spa , For whose care you have exercised eminent personalities of culture, politics and religion.

  Address Bath Villa
  Phone 0583 805745

  Villa Bernardini

  Very simple in shape, the villa looks like a cubic block on three floors at the entrance to the original seventeenth-century furnishings, while in the garden you can admire a beautiful theater that.

  Address Via di Vicopelago, 573 / a - Vicopelago
  Website: www.villabernardini.it
  E-mail: info@villabernardini.it
  Phone 0583 370327

  Villa Borbone delle Pianore

  The villa complex consists of buildings of different eras: the main building dates back to the late eighteenth century, while the south is dated at the turn of the nineteenth century. In recent times, in 1964, was built a new building in the north.
  Result of the restructuring of a mill, was used as a villa by the Duchess of Lucca Maria Teresa of Savoy, wife of Charles Louis de Bourbon.
  Construction south have recovered some Renaissance architectural themes, such as decorations bosses, curvilinear gables and the plant of the same, with the central body part. The decorations that enrich the interiors came in a good state of preservation that allows you to appreciate as they deserve: coffered ceilings, damasks walls, stucco and marble.
  Of great interest is the park, built to the same nineteenth century. Local plants are mixed with other exotic species, as different species of palm trees, a sequoia, and the Maclura maoni.

  Address Via San Michele 5 / A - Capezzano Pianore
  Phone 0584 913155

  Villa Grabau

  Built in the sixteenth century on the ruins of a medieval village, the building has three floors in the position held for the villas in the sixteenth century: the border between the plains and hills, with the main facade facing downstream.
  Made up of several gardens, the park is one of the most interesting Lucchesia both the form and the large number of botanical rarities. Inside you encounter structures still functioning, such as limonaia in 1600 or the Theater of Verzura where concerts are held, meetings, ceremonies and receptions.

  Visit this villa is not just a charm for the eyes, but also for the palate, are possible tastings of local products. And, by the way of culinary delights, you can report the Frantoio restaurant of traditional Tuscan cuisine.

  If you want to for a while 'stay to savor the pleasures, the taste, the beauty of this place, you can stay at one of two residences located within the park.

  Address Via di Matraia, 269 - San Pancrazio
  Phone 0583 406098
  Website: www.villagrabau.it
  E-mail: info@villagrabau.it

  Villa Mansi

  Renowned for the graces of its gardens and the elegance of its architecture, this villa has welcomed kings and ambassadors of several European states. Beginning in the sixteenth century, the date the original building, the villa has undergone several transformations, including those in the park by Filippo Juvarra to which they must work to close, the hydraulic and the tripartite of the garden itself.
  Among the many frescoes that decorate the interior of villa, those in the central hall are certainly more interesting thanks to the neoclassical painter Stefano Tofanelli, much appreciated by Elisa Baciocchi, Princess of Lucca and the sister of Napoleon Bonaparte. These paintings are the two large paintings tell of the exploits of Apollo and nell'affresco ceiling depicting "The Triumph of the Sun God."

  Address Street Selvette, 242 - Segromigno Capannori in Monte -
  Telephone 0583-920234
  Website www.villamansi.it
  E-mail villamansi@villelucchesi.net

  Villa Oliva

  This great sixteenth-century building, a rectangular, has an imposing portico that open the windows of two floors. The space behind the building is surrounded by a semicircle of hedges of holm oak in the middle with a "cave" with tuff of water games. There are many rare plant in the park as the Gingo Biloba, camphor, the olea fragrans and eucalyptus.

  San Pancrazio-Lucca
  Phone 0583 406462
  Website www.villaoliva.it
  E-mail villaoliva@villelucchesi.net

  Villa Reale di Marlia

  In its current form the Villa Reale di Marlia is neoclassical opera, dating from the time it was the residence of Elisa Baciocchi. Ended the Napoleonic period, the villa passed into the hands of other illustrious and noble families hosted great personalities, such as the violinist Paganini, the American painter John Singer Sargent and representatives of all the royal houses of Europe.

  While the building is been renovated in modern style, the gardens have retained its original seventeenth century, with the wonderful theater that fewer and camellias.

  Address Via Fraga Alta - Marlia
  Phone 0583 30108
  E-mail villareale@villelucchesi.net

  
  Villa del Vescovo

  A villa in the villa. This is true to say about this sixteenth-century building located in the park of Villa Reale in Marlia. And this is not his only peculiarity. Indeed, it is the only example of a villa in Lucca with irregular courtyard.

  The park is located ninfeo the oldest and one of the most beautiful villas of the Lucca. It consists of two rooms, of which the most exterior has a square plan and is on two floors with large openings in the walls, while the arched entrance on the ground floor are supported by pillars of tuff bosses. For the entire building were used different materials, which have exploited the decorative features, for stalactites, geometric decorations, masks and statues. The set creates an effect of particular fascination.

  Address Marlia
  Phone 0583 30108

  Villa Torrigiani

  Two long rows of tall cypress trees leading to the villa, a remarkable example of Baroque architecture in Tuscany on the interventions promoted by the marquis Nicolao Santini, ambassador at the court of the Sun King, who wanted to turn it into a luxurious dwelling, a garden with parterres of flowers and a large tanks which mirrors the facade. He created the garden-theater with animated caves from water games still in operation. Magnificent is the cave a circular, decorated with mosaics, which opened niches containing statues of the winds and surmounted by a dome from which the great escapes of rain water. Dall'Ottocento the park has taken on a more romantic with the addition of essences from different parts of the world.

  Address Via del Gomberaio, 3 - Camigliano
  Phone 0583 928041
  E-mail villatorrigiani@villelucchesi.net