Villa Marigola, 18th-century villa in Lerici, Italy

Villa Marigola is a residence set on elevated grounds above Lerici with formal gardens, stone pathways, and multiple terraces overlooking the Gulf of Poets. The property spans landscaped grounds with views toward the coastline and now functions as an event center.

The building began as an 18th-century home for the Ollandini family and underwent major architectural changes during the 19th century. These transformations shaped the villa's appearance as it exists today.

The villa's name comes from the Marigola promontory, not from bergamot. In the 1920s architect Franco Oliva redesigned the old citrus garden on the terrace with the winding geometry of an Italian garden, and the parterre is aligned toward Lerici castle across the bay.

The property is easily accessible by coastal roads and offers ample grounds to walk through. Visitors should note that the grounds are primarily used for events and conferences throughout the year.

The Torretta, a small castle-shaped building on the grounds, hosted playwright Sem Benelli in the early 20th century; there he wrote his best-known work, La cena delle beffe. He also coined the name Golfo dei Poeti for the Gulf of La Spezia, recalling Byron and the Shelleys.