It is great to be back in Bagni di Lucca. The weather has been mixed. We have had sunny days and days of heavy rain. Ponte a Serraglio is looking great in early autumn.
A couple of days ago I went with friends to visit Villa Reale, a late Renaissance villa outside Lucca in Capannori. The 15th century villa was in the Buonavisi family from 1517 to 1651. The Palazzina dell’Orologio with its clock tower was constructed in the 17th century.The gardens were established in the second half of the 17th century in the Italian style.
In 1806 Elisa Bonaparte, sister of Napoleon, purchased the entire estate. She acquired the adjacent Villa del Vescova with its 16th century garden and grotto, and other bordering properties, doubling the size of the property. The property’s name became Villa Reale di Marlia and became the official residence as Duchess of Lucca, Princess of Piombino, Grand Duchess of Tuscany and Countess of Compignano. Napoleon liked to spread the joy with his family.
Elisa had the villa redecorated in the Neoclassical style. She had gatehouses built, added elements and turned the original Italian gardens into an expansive English landscape park with a lake.
After several owners it fell into disrepair. Count and Countess Pucci-Blunt bought the property in 1924, in time to stop the total destruction of the property. In 2015, the once again neglected estate, was sold to its current owners, Henri and Marina Gronberg. They fell in love with it and immediately commissioned extensive restorations to the buildings and the park. Now people from all over the world get to see this beautiful property.
Come for a walk through the estate.
Our visit coincided with a small antique market held in the limonaia. There were a few treasures, which I was able to resist.
Villa Reale is a beautiful place to visit. Sometimes there are concerts and markets, but just wandering through the beautiful gardens is enough. My first visit was in 2010 when the house was not open to visitors.
See previous visits
Your new treasures are lovely!
By: Karen Overton on October 1, 2024
at 8:14 pm
I just looked on this occasion, but I was tempted.
By: Debra Kolkka on October 2, 2024
at 3:30 am
U felt like I was doing a slow walk through those gardens. Beautiful photos Deb; I could ‘feel’ the place.
By: Christine Collins on October 1, 2024
at 10:26 pm
Villa Reale is beautiful. It is a delight to wander through the gardens.
By: Debra Kolkka on October 2, 2024
at 3:39 am
How lucky are you to visit places such as Villa Reale & wonderful to be in the hands of the Gronberg family. Concerts in such stunning grounds and gardens must be wonderful. I also loved all the ceramics.
By: Camillus Davall on October 1, 2024
at 10:42 pm
Villa Reale is only 30 minutes away from Bagni di Lucca. We have so many wonderful things close by.
By: Debra Kolkka on October 2, 2024
at 4:20 am
What a great way to spend the day – wandering around such impressive grounds. Great photos Deb.
By: Kerry & Jim on October 1, 2024
at 11:26 pm
I have been a few times to Villa Reale. I think it would be difficult to take a bad photo with so much beauty everywhere.
By: Debra Kolkka on October 2, 2024
at 4:25 am
Beautiful photos Deb . You really captured the feel of this gorgeous place .
By: Donna McCormack on October 2, 2024
at 8:18 pm
It is a beautiful place to walk in. The gardens are stunning.
By: Debra Kolkka on October 4, 2024
at 5:39 am
The gardens are beautiful – but I especially liked the crockery and pottery – they are even now, metaphorically, up my jumper
By: Jan Trounce on October 3, 2024
at 10:26 am