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When
in Lucca
The medieval town of
Lucca is an undiscovered gem that rivals nearby Florence, Pisa, and Siena.
Little known beyond the cognoscenti who have vacationed here for
generations, the surrounding Lucchesia region has a charm even more authentic
and sophisticated than the rest of Tuscany. The landscape of gentle hills,
blanketed with olive groves and vineyards, camellia-scented gardens and
forested coastline, is a haven of calm and beauty.
Lucca,
the walled 'city of a hundred churches'--a treasure trove of medieval
and Renaissance art and architecture.
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The
palacial villas of the Lucca aristocracy offer views into a world of beauty,
a life surrounded by art.
We know you'll
think your own villa is exquisite, but just to put things into perspective…
The hills surrounding Lucca are famous for the palacial villas
built there over centuries, scattered in a 'Golden Triangle' within a
few kilometers. The gorgeous Torrigiani villa, located in Camigliano,
was originally a convent in the fifteenth century, transformed into a
country residence by the powerful Bonvisi family. It was later redesigned
by Nicolao Santini, ambassador for the republic of Lucca to the court
of Louis XIV, in the style he admired at Versailles. The interiors are
richly decorated with eighteenth century furniture and paintings, and
the surrounding park is also spectacular, lushly planted with formal gardens
and amazing sculptured fountains.
Villa Mansi, in Segrignano Monte on the road to Piaggiori,
is also splendid. Built in the sixteenth century, it was restored two
centuries later by Filippo Juvara, a gem surrounded by majestic gardens
that mingle Italian and English styles. The royal Villa of Marlia is also
open for access to the surrounding park, although the sumptious residence
is private to the Pecci-Blunt family and is closed to the public.
The traditional cuisine of Lucchesia
balances subtle sophistication with an earthy appreciation for the local
bounty of the land.
The beaches of Versilia, little known
to foreign tourists, are where the money of Milan vacations.
In Lucca, shopping is a splendid sensual
experience: look for fine silks and culinary treats.
Carrara and Pietrasanta are known throughout
the world for their precious white marble from the Apuane Alps.
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