Around the city of Lucca, on the slopes of the hills, there are many historic villas, which were built by the nobility of Lucca and where peacefully they spent time when they wanted to get away from city life. The first villas were built in the 15th century, but it's from the Renaissance and even more since the 16thcentury, when the hills were populated by these luxurious homes.
Each building has its own history with parties, dances, amorous encounters, and deserves to be visited and admired. Today we speak about Villa Torrigiani, a fascinating and extraordinary building with many stories to tell. At the end of the 16th century, it wan owned by Buonvisi's family, important dynasty of merchants and bankers active after discovery of America and they became so rich and powerful to own more than 19 villas! One of those, now called Villa Bottini, is inside the walls of Lucca.
In the 17th century Villa Torrigiani was bought by Nicolao Santini, ambassador of the Republic of Lucca at the court of Louis XIV, who transformed the late renaissance villa (of which today we can the tuscan porch on the back) in a baroque jewel characterized by a scenic facade adorned with staircase, windows “serliane” and balconies, all decorated with marble statues. In front of the villa, there is a series of buildings that form the "Village Paris", inspired as the garden by the Palace of Versailles which Nicolao Santini knew thanks to his diplomatic assignment in France.
The 17th century park around the villa was modified in the 19th century, still keeping the French style. The visitor can also admire the fish pond with water features, the green gallery, the charming italian secret garden, once hidden by a wall to create a surprise effect. Behind this, you can find the “Nymphaeum of the winds”, the real heart of the park at which converge all the footpaths: a tunnel under the stairs provides access to two caves full of statues of dragons, women-snake and crepuscular animals, including colorful mosaics and fountains, which lead to the statue of Flora.
This wonderful and unique little Versailles is the last stage that concludes the unmissable tour of the villas offered by Tuscany Ride a Bike ... obviously for biking!
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