Villa Paolina, Renaissance villa in Compignano, Italy.
Villa Paolina is an estate set on a hill in Compignano with a horseshoe-shaped layout and eight marble statues flanking the grand entrance. The property contains four separate buildings with living space, a swimming pool, and multiple spaces for entertaining guests.
The estate was built during the Renaissance and later became the residence of Paolina Bonaparte, Napoleon's sister, who lived here from 1822 to 1826. This connection linked the property to early 19th-century European imperial history.
The property takes its name from its most famous resident and reflects the taste of its era for Italian garden design. Visitors find mature camellia plantings and formal gardens that show how such estates were maintained and used.
The hilltop location means visitors should wear sturdy footwear and be prepared for uneven ground when exploring the property. The expansive gardens and parkland require time to walk through, so plan your visit to take advantage of daylight hours.
The estate includes a converted limonaia, a traditional greenhouse once used for citrus trees common to the Lucca region. Nine hectares of parkland with ancient oaks and cedars were designed in the Romantic style and reflect how gardens were arranged in that era.
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