A majestic 18th-century villa nestled in the hills of Lucca, Tuscany, once owned by Carolina Bonaparte—Napoleon’s sister and Queen of Naples—is now being offered for sale by Lionard Luxury Real Estate. Considered one of the most fascinating historic residences in the Lucca area, this extraordinary property is the ideal acquisition for those who wish to preserve and relive the memory of centuries past. An iconic estate that perfectly embodies the architectural beauty and uniqueness of the Lucchese countryside.
The origins of the villa date back to the 16th century, but its transformation into an aristocratic residence took place in the early 1700s, commissioned by silk merchant Coriolano Orsucci of the noble Lucchese family. During a business trip, Orsucci met the renowned architect Filippo Juvarra, one of the greatest masters of Italian Baroque, and invited him to Lucca (where he arrived for the first time in 1706) to design the renovation and expansion of the estate. Today, only a monumental portal and the drawings for a garden—never realized due to Orsucci’s death—remain of Juvarra’s plans. From the early 18th century also date important stuccoes and two large canvases (4 by 8 meters) attributed to the celebrated painter Pier Dandini, which decorate the villa’s grand central hall.
In 1836, the villa became the property of Carolina Bonaparte (Ajaccio, 1782 – Florence, 1839), one of Napoleon’s three sisters. All three shared an Italian destiny. Carolina married General Joachim Murat in 1800, accompanying him in his brilliant career first in the Duchy of Berg and Cleves, then in Italy, where together they ascended to the throne of Naples, ruling from 1808 to 1815. Ambitious and remarkably intelligent, Carolina was known for her political influence. Napoleon himself once said of her: “There is more energy in her little finger than in her husband’s entire personality.” She was also responsible for the purchase of the Élysée Palace in 1805, today the official residence of the French President.
The property extends over three hectares of lush parkland and an equal area of olive groves and meadows. It encompasses not only the main villa of approximately 2,500 square meters spread across three harmonious floors, but also a refined 300-square-meter dépendance, a precious 18th-century lemon house of over 200 square meters—still perfectly functional for the storage of more than one hundred lemon vases—and a charming 18th-century chapel, all carefully restored.
The façades of the villa are richly decorated with rusticated pilasters and enhanced with marble friezes. From the grand double-ramp staircase, one enters the piano nobile, home to the formal reception rooms, still complete with their original 18th-century furnishings. Here lies the impressive central hall, with its 125 square meters and 8-meter-high ceilings—the largest among Lucca’s villas—alongside a gaming room, a formal dining room, and the celebrated red silk-walled bedroom.
Two interior staircases connect the different levels of the villa. The second floor, still to be completed, offers additional bedrooms overlooking the gardens and countryside, as do all the villa’s rooms. The ground floor houses the restored historic kitchens and vaulted wine cellars, where modern comforts have been carefully integrated without compromising the original character. The villa also features spacious, atmospheric attics.
Completing the property is a dépendance with five double bedrooms, each with a private bathroom—an ideal guesthouse or boutique hospitality space, perfectly integrated into the historic setting. An ample garage is also available for both residents and guests.
The park, a harmonious example of historic Italian garden design, features pathways, terracotta statues, fountains, boxwood hedges, and centuries-old vegetation. The estate includes two swimming pools set in complete privacy and surrounded by greenery, with authorization already granted for a third pool, as well as the possibility of creating a private helipad.
“Historic villas in Lucca represent a heritage unique in the world,” says Dimitri Corti, Founder and CEO of Lionard. “We are particularly proud to showcase this extraordinary territory. Every time we present these residences to international markets, we share with the world the beauty and cultural richness of Italy.”
The origins of the villa date back to the 16th century, but its transformation into an aristocratic residence took place in the early 1700s, commissioned by silk merchant Coriolano Orsucci of the noble Lucchese family. During a business trip, Orsucci met the renowned architect Filippo Juvarra, one of the greatest masters of Italian Baroque, and invited him to Lucca (where he arrived for the first time in 1706) to design the renovation and expansion of the estate. Today, only a monumental portal and the drawings for a garden—never realized due to Orsucci’s death—remain of Juvarra’s plans. From the early 18th century also date important stuccoes and two large canvases (4 by 8 meters) attributed to the celebrated painter Pier Dandini, which decorate the villa’s grand central hall.
In 1836, the villa became the property of Carolina Bonaparte (Ajaccio, 1782 – Florence, 1839), one of Napoleon’s three sisters. All three shared an Italian destiny. Carolina married General Joachim Murat in 1800, accompanying him in his brilliant career first in the Duchy of Berg and Cleves, then in Italy, where together they ascended to the throne of Naples, ruling from 1808 to 1815. Ambitious and remarkably intelligent, Carolina was known for her political influence. Napoleon himself once said of her: “There is more energy in her little finger than in her husband’s entire personality.” She was also responsible for the purchase of the Élysée Palace in 1805, today the official residence of the French President.
The property extends over three hectares of lush parkland and an equal area of olive groves and meadows. It encompasses not only the main villa of approximately 2,500 square meters spread across three harmonious floors, but also a refined 300-square-meter dépendance, a precious 18th-century lemon house of over 200 square meters—still perfectly functional for the storage of more than one hundred lemon vases—and a charming 18th-century chapel, all carefully restored.
The façades of the villa are richly decorated with rusticated pilasters and enhanced with marble friezes. From the grand double-ramp staircase, one enters the piano nobile, home to the formal reception rooms, still complete with their original 18th-century furnishings. Here lies the impressive central hall, with its 125 square meters and 8-meter-high ceilings—the largest among Lucca’s villas—alongside a gaming room, a formal dining room, and the celebrated red silk-walled bedroom.
Two interior staircases connect the different levels of the villa. The second floor, still to be completed, offers additional bedrooms overlooking the gardens and countryside, as do all the villa’s rooms. The ground floor houses the restored historic kitchens and vaulted wine cellars, where modern comforts have been carefully integrated without compromising the original character. The villa also features spacious, atmospheric attics.
Completing the property is a dépendance with five double bedrooms, each with a private bathroom—an ideal guesthouse or boutique hospitality space, perfectly integrated into the historic setting. An ample garage is also available for both residents and guests.
The park, a harmonious example of historic Italian garden design, features pathways, terracotta statues, fountains, boxwood hedges, and centuries-old vegetation. The estate includes two swimming pools set in complete privacy and surrounded by greenery, with authorization already granted for a third pool, as well as the possibility of creating a private helipad.
“Historic villas in Lucca represent a heritage unique in the world,” says Dimitri Corti, Founder and CEO of Lionard. “We are particularly proud to showcase this extraordinary territory. Every time we present these residences to international markets, we share with the world the beauty and cultural richness of Italy.”
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