On the hills surrounding Lucca, an 18th-century villa of great historical and architectural value, which belonged to Carolina Bonaparte (Ajaccio, 1782 - Florence, 1839), Napoleon ’s sister and queen of Naples, is offered for sale. The mansion, managed by Lionard Luxury Real Estate, stands out as an example of Lucca’s real estate heritage, extending over a main area of about 2,500 square meters and accompanied by a three-hectare park, olive groves, meadows and other ancillary structures. The villa represents a historical testimony of national and international significance, the result of centuries of architectural and artistic evolution.
The villa’s origins date back to the 16th century, but its transformation into a stately residence took place in the early 18th century at the behest of Coriolano Orsucci, a silk merchant belonging to one of Lucca’s noble families. During a business trip, Orsucci came into contact with architect Filippo Juvarra, one of the greatest exponents of Italian Baroque, inviting him to Lucca in 1706 for renovation and expansion work on the property. Of Juvarra’s plans today remains a portal and drawings for a garden that were never realized due to Orsucci’s untimely death. Important stucco work and two large four-by-eight-meter canvases, attributed to Pier Dandini, that decorate the villa’s central hall remain from the early eighteenth century period.
“Lucca’s historic villas represent a unique heritage in the world,” says Dimitri Corti, founder and CEO of Lionard. “We are particularly proud to give visibility to this extraordinary territory. Every time we present these mansions on international markets we tell the world about the beauty and cultural richness of our Italy.”
In 1836 the villa came into the ownership of Carolina Bonaparte, one of Napoleon’s sisters. Carolina married General Joachim Murat in 1800, sharing his political and military career first in the duchy of Berg and Clèves and later in Italy, serving as the Kingdom of Naples from 1808 to 1815. Known for her intelligence and ambition, Caroline influenced the politics of the time and acquired in 1805 the Elysée Palace, now the residence of the presidents of the French Republic.
The property consists of the main villa, developed on three floors, and a refined annex of about 300 square meters, as well as an eighteenth-century lemon house of more than 200 square meters, currently functioning for more than one hundred lemon basins. The estate also includes a perfectly preserved 18th-century church. The villa’s facades feature decorations of rusticated pilasters and marble friezes, while a scenic outdoor staircase leads to the main floor, where there are reception rooms with original 18th-century furnishings. The central hall, 125 square meters with eight meters in height, constitutes the largest among the Lucchese villas, flanked by a game room, the dining room and the so-called red room, with silk walls.
Two flights of internal stairs connect the different floors of the villa. On the second floor, to be completed, are additional rooms overlooking the gardens and surrounding countryside. The ground floor houses the old kitchens with cellar underneath, integrated with modern conveniences without altering the original structure. The villa also has large attics. The annex offers five double bedrooms, each with private bathroom, making it suitable for hospitality or charming accommodation activities. The property also includes a large garage for owners’ and guests’ vehicles.
The park represents a remarkable example of a historic garden, with pathways, terracotta statues, fountains, boxwood hedges and centuries-old vegetation. The estate has two swimming pools surrounded by greenery and total privacy, while a third pool, already authorized, can be built within the property. The construction of a private heliport is also permitted, completing the functional possibilities of the villa and confirming the exclusive character of the residence. With its historical, architectural and naturalistic elements, the Carolina Bonaparte villa ranks among the most prominent residences in the Lucca area: a rare opportunity on the real estate market for those who wish to preserve a significant historical memory.
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| Carolina Bonaparte's historic villa is for sale in the hills of Lucca |
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