Once you've found a luxury villa in Lucca and are headed there on a holiday, it might be tempting to stay within the Baroque walls of the beautiful city, especially as there is so much to see, despite its relatively small size. However, venturing beyond these walls is well worth it – not only for the stunning Tuscan landscape which surrounds but also for the villas on the outskirts of Lucca. These buildings were originally largely the summer homes of influential merchants. With frescoed interiors, sumptuous architectural detail and stunning gardens with waterworks ahead of their time, these villas are a treat to the senses, pleasant ventures into the past and historical and artistic gems. One particularly beautiful example is Villa Torrigiani.
Villa Torrigiani is located in the hamlet of Camigliano, a town in Capannori, Lucca. It is a luxurious villa, dating from the second half of the sixteenth century with many of the same attributes as other Lucchese historic villas, including extensive waterworks. However, it also stands out from other villas in the area due to its multicoloured façade, created by using different materials such as grey stone and tuff alternating yellow pillars and arches, marble statues of white, ochre plaster at the bottom with the upper part in white. Similarly, the use of parapets on the windows or openings are original elements and are only found elsewhere at Villa Mansi. This distinctive choice in decoration was down to the Bolognese architect Alfonso Torrigiani.
The first recorded mention of the villa comes from 1593, when it is noted as belonging to the Buonvisi family. It was bought later by Nicola Santini who rebuilt the south façade in the Baroque style at the end of the seventeenth century.
This included new gardens, the addition of two wings to the villa and the addition of a massive scale range to the main façade which leads to a serliana and is duplicated on the upper floor with two balconies, decorated with statues. In 1816, his descendant, Victoria Santini married into the Torrigiani family, after whom it was named thereafter. Under them, the existing Italian garden was uprooted in favour of an 'English style' park.
The rear façade, unlike the front, is of late Renaissance style and is characterized by a large portico of the Tuscan order. This is to be admired, though the villa is more famous as the best example of Baroque in Tuscany. The interiors are best known for their frescoes by Pietro Scorzini. Due to the fact that the walls of Villa Torrigiani are very thick, they provide a nearly constant temperature year round which is good for the art and has left them vibrant after all these years. The gardens, with their grotesques, grottoes and secret garden are also a famous feature of the villa.
Still inhabited by the descendants of marquis Santini, this stunning villa is well worth the visit if you find yourself in Lucca or Tuscany.
This included new gardens, the addition of two wings to the villa and the addition of a massive scale range to the main façade which leads to a serliana and is duplicated on the upper floor with two balconies, decorated with statues. In 1816, his descendant, Victoria Santini married into the Torrigiani family, after whom it was named thereafter. Under them, the existing Italian garden was uprooted in favour of an 'English style' park.
The rear façade, unlike the front, is of late Renaissance style and is characterized by a large portico of the Tuscan order. This is to be admired, though the villa is more famous as the best example of Baroque in Tuscany. The interiors are best known for their frescoes by Pietro Scorzini. Due to the fact that the walls of Villa Torrigiani are very thick, they provide a nearly constant temperature year round which is good for the art and has left them vibrant after all these years. The gardens, with their grotesques, grottoes and secret garden are also a famous feature of the villa.
Still inhabited by the descendants of marquis Santini, this stunning villa is well worth the visit if you find yourself in Lucca or Tuscany.