Villa Oliva Buonvisi, Renaissance villa in San Pancrazio, Lucca, Italy
Villa Oliva Buonvisi is a Renaissance villa in San Pancrazio near Lucca featuring a distinctive five-arch portico with stone columns along its north side. The property unfolds across multiple terraced levels that create distinct zones within the garden spaces.
The villa was built in the late 15th century by the Buonvisi family, who were merchants and bankers in Lucca. Over the following centuries it passed to other noble families, including the Montecatini, and eventually to Prince Carlo Poniatowski.
The garden displays Renaissance artistic touches through terracotta figures and mythological sculptures scattered throughout its green spaces. These sculptures, including Diana and whimsical satyrs, reflect how people have always decorated their private retreats with imaginative characters from classical stories.
The garden is open during the warmer months and offers various pathways at different elevations for exploration. Sturdy footwear is recommended since the terraced areas have uneven surfaces and involve climbing between levels.
The property contains a green gallery formed by ancient trees dating from the 16th century, including lime trees, maples, English oaks, and hollies. These towering trees create natural archways and shaded passages that shape the experience of moving through the garden.
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