Villa Oliva - Lucca
Villa Oliva is in the hills around Lucca at 6 km from the ancient city walls. It was built in the late XVth century as country residence of the Buonvisi family by Matteo Civitali, a famous Italian Renaissance Architect.
The gate opens onto a long and scenographic cypress alley leading up to the south façade of the Villa.
Next to the Villa are the stables also open to the public.
A legend tells us of a bet of proud Cardinal Francesco Buonvisi with Louis XIVth of France. Buonvisi claimed that his stables were more beautiful than any of the rooms in newly constructed Versailles. A curious Louis XIVth sent his ambassador to Lucca who after inspecting the stables had to agree with Buonvisi. The Cardinal had ordered the walls of his stables to be covered with "Louis d'or", French gold coins with the effigy of the sun king himself.
Villa Oliva is maintained in its original design on three levels with various fountains and waterfalls. Next to the villa is a Palazzina dell’Ortolano , a building with 15 sleeps (+4) cut into 4 units that are independent one from the other, each of them with a private kitchen and toilet, 2 wide common places with fireplace.
Swimming pool and tennis court, furnished garden with barbecue are set in the wonderful contest of the park of this XVth century’s villa, which is 5 hectares and is circumvented by a large stone wall.
ACCOMODATION UNIT:
