Villa Reale di Marlia

Seventeenth-century Villa Reale di Marlia, surrounded by high walls that seem to protect it from the passage of time, is located in Lucca in the heart of Tuscany, in a privileged position at the foot of the Pizzorne Plateau. Considered one of Italy’s most important historical residences, it was the home of Elisa Bonaparte Baciocchi, Napoleon’s sister and Princess of Lucca in the 19th century.

On the site where Villa Reale stands today, back in the early Middle Ages there was once a palace which was inhabited by the Duke of Tuscia. By the time the property passed to the noble Buonvisis, a family of merchants and bankers from Lucca, the ancient building had already been transformed into a two-storey noble Palazzo, distinguished from other properties in the vicinity by its undisputed grandeur, with magnificent gardens and fountains encircling it.

In 1651, Lelio and Oliviero Orsetti purchased the Buonvisi property and commissioned the building of a new Villa, which was subsequently expanded multiple times after demolishing most of the original Palazzo. The extensive transformation project concluded with the construction of a late Renaissance-style building that dominated the large front lawn. Villa Orsetti had evolved into a compact rectangular structure, distinguished by rusticated corners. On the valley side, the façade boasted a terrace situated above the entrance portal.

During the Napoleonic period, Elisa Bonaparte Baciocchi purchased the property in 1806. From this point on, the Villa was therefore entitled considered ‘Reale’ or Royal, given that Elisa was the Queen of Etruria. Further changes were made to the building by the new owner, with its transformation entrusted first to architect Pierre-Théodore Bienaimé and later to Giuseppe Marchelli, who both respected the building’s size, but changed its external appearance. The 18th-century lines of Villa Orsetti disappeared, the attic floor was raised, and a new mansard service level was added to create three floors of equal height, divided by double cornices. A portico was added on the north façade and an Italian-style terrace was built. On the ground floor, the Palazzo’s windows were replaced with doors, creating the illusion of a continuous loggia in place of the windows of the former Villa Orsetti.

The rediscovered beauty of the monumental complex is the result of the unprecedent restoration work that led to the openi of Elisa Bonaparte Baciocchi empire style apartments inside the Villa Reale and the Palazzina dell’Orologio museum dedicated to the bizzarre collection of Countess Mimì Pecci Blunt.

The history of Villa Reale di Marlia
Exploring the Park at Villa Reale offers visitors the delightful experience of immersing themselves in a very ancient history that traces its origins back to the Medieval era, which is when its extraordinary story starts, the result of a series of transformations that occurred over the centuries thanks to the presence of illustrious figures and royal dynasties. The park is open from 10:00 to 17:30. Recommended last entry 4.30pm.

During the Early Middle Ages, the structure was inhabited by the Duke of Tuscia. Later, ownership passed to the noble Buonvisi family, a Lucca-based family of merchants and bankers who transformed the fortress into a noble Palazzo. In 1651, Oliviero and Lelio Orsetti purchased the property and made modifications to the Villa, giving the Park a new Baroque-style layout by creating courtyards, pathways and scenic gardens such as the Teatro di Verzura and the Giardino dei Limoni (the Green Theatre and the Lemon Garden). The two noblemen from Lucca were also responsible for the construction of the elegant Palazzina dell’Orologio (Clock House), which housed the farm and stable areas.

Elisa Bonaparte Baciocchi purchased the property in 1806 during the Napoleonic period, thereby transforming its name to ‘Villa Reale’, given that she was the royal Queen of Etruria. She was responsible for major interventions that transformed the structure of the Palazzo and its gardens. The neighbouring Villa del Vescovo was annexed to the complex, and the façades of the old Palazzo Orsetti acquired a neo-Classical style. The Park was also partially redesigned according to the 18th- century English garden style and was embellished with statues and vases made with precious white marble from the Accademia Eugeniana of Carrara.

After the fall of Napoleon, Villa Reale passed to Charles Louis of Bourbon, and in the second half of the 19th century, the historical residence became the property of the King of Italy, Vittorio Emanuele II, who chose to bestow it upon Penelope Carolina, the widow of Charles of Bourbon, Prince of Capua. Along with her two children, the princess spent several years in the royal residence. After her death in 1882, the Marlia complex was inherited by her two children, Vittoria Augusta and Francesco Carlo. The latter suffered from mental illness and was known as the ‘Mad Prince’. Upon Vittoria’s death, the Villa was put up for sale and its movable assets were auctioned, while many of the trees in the Park were felled for timber.

In the early 20th century, Count and Countess Pecci-Blunt fell in love with the property and purchased it in 1923. The following year, they enlisted famous French architect Jacques Greber to restore the Park, with the aim of successfully blending its heritage and innovative touches. The romantic landscape of the park was thus enriched with woods, streams, a lake and bucolic elements.

In addition to the noble owners, this historical residence provided an ideal setting, during the unique atmosphere of the late 19th and early 20th centuries, for renowned figures such as violinist and composer Paganini, who would often play his famous instrument for Elisa Baciocchi in the Green Theatre. American artist John Singer Sargent also enjoyed his time here, painting and interpreting truly evocative views of the Park.

The opening of the first restored rooms of the villa
The recent opening of the new Café at Villa Reale, the result of the restoration of the early 20th- century games pavilion, offers visitors an opportunity to relax in the gardens, enjoying refreshments with cool drinks and tasty snacks in a simply unique setting. The Café is open from 10.30am to 5.30pm. Recommended last entry 4.30pm.

Facilities and services
Weddings and private events at Villa Reale di Marlia.