Villa Bottini

Villa Bottini is a sixteenth-century urban villa built for the Buonvisi family in 1566. Elisa Bonaparte later made it her first residence in Lucca.

Why it matters

Villa Bottini is a distinctive example of the urban villa in Lucca. Its compact rectangular plan, large openings and balanced facade reflect the Renaissance design of a garden residence. Originally known as Villa Buonvisi al giardino, it later became associated with Elisa Bonaparte, sister of Napoleon and princess of Lucca and Piombino, who chose it as her first home in the city.

What to notice

The facade is defined by its rectangular form and regularly arranged openings, a restrained design that contrasted with later architectural styles. The villa stands within a walled garden, recalling the relationship between urban residences and the larger villas of the surrounding countryside. A mature plane tree in the garden is traditionally associated with Elisa, although the attribution is uncertain. The property lies between Lucca's medieval and Renaissance wall rings.

Context and history

The Buonvisi, a family of merchants, built the villa in 1566 as a garden residence. Its architect is not securely identified: municipal history records that scholars have proposed Bernardo Buontalenti, Nicolao Civitali or an unknown designer. Elisa Baciocchi Bonaparte, princess of Lucca and Piombino from 1805, used the villa as her first residence while the Ducal Palace was being renovated. Ownership later passed to the Bottini family, whose name became attached to the house, and subsequently to other private families. The property was acquired and restored by Regione Toscana before passing to the Comune di Lucca.