Tour of the neighbourhood of Lucca.
The tour is conducted by car. The tour is usually organised in conjunction with other Tuscan towns.
Villas in the vicinity of Lucca: Villa Torrigiani, Villa Mansi, Villa Marlia.
If you wish to visit the neighbourhood of Lucca and specific villas, the duration of the tour will be extended.
From the 15th century until the end of the 19th century, the construction of noble estates developed on the hills lying to the north-east of Lucca. Today this architectural heritage consists of about three hundred villas surrounded by lush gardens and parks. Many of these villas are still inhabited by descendants of Luccan aristocrats. Each of them is a work of art with spacious porticoes, salons, frescoes and statues, with parks decorated with fountains, fish gardens and lakes. The following villas stand out for their beauty: Villa Torrigiani in Borgonuovo, Villa Mansi in Segromigno in Monte and Villa Marlia in Capannori.
Villa Torrigiani.
This is a historic structure dating from the second half of the 16th century. The first mention of the villa dates back to 1593, when it belonged to the Buonvisi family. It was later bought by Nicola Santini, who remodelled the Baroque facade of the villa at the end of the 17th century. Santini also created a garden with flower beds, pools, a fountain and a water “garden of Flora” in the eastern part. In 1816, Victoria Santini married a member of the Torrigiani family.
Villa Mansi.
Palazzo Mansi is an outstanding example of a merchant’s house in Lucca, a true house-museum. At the end of the 17th century, the then owners of the building turned it into a “servants’ house”, restoring it in the then prevailing Baroque style.
Palazzo Mansi is a living witness to the centuries-old history of the Mansi family, which from the 16th century onwards was engaged in agriculture and trade, constantly increasing its wealth and status. The late 16th century building was created by combining pre-existing towers and was bought by Asanio Mansi in 1616.
Villa Marlia
The 15th century Italian Renaissance villa belonged to the Buonvisi family from 1517-1651. In the 17th century the Palazzina dell’Orologgio was built on the estate with a dominant clock tower, and a little later a garden in the style of “Giardino al Italiana”, which was also influenced by the prevailing late Renaissance and Baroque styles.
