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Villa Garzoni is in Collodi, a hamlet of Pescia, in the province of Pistoia.
The villa, in a typical style of Lucca noble residences, climbs up a hill under the rustic stone houses of the town. The first mention of the villa dates back to 1633 when Romano Garzoni, belonging to the patriciate of Lucca, signed a project for a building almost as big as the current one, while the garden was much smaller. In 1652, the latter was enlarged and fitted with Italian-style terraces, staircases, statues and fountains.

THE VILLA

The imposing and majestic façade stands out on the slope of the hill as if to hide the town of Collodi, which can be reached through an archway of the building. In addition to the grandeur of the main building, several other elements further emphasize its impressive look, like the flights of stairs, the coat of arms of the Garzoni over the main entrance, as well as the two guard posts on its sides.

The true solemnity of the façade makes a striking contrast with the summer building: the work of Filippo Juvarra, which can be considered one of the most important expressions of Baroque architecture in Tuscany. As soon as you cross the door, in fact, it captures your attention with its curved and light lines and the lively chromatic effects given by the red plaster, the mosaics and the cobblestone coating.

THE GARDEN

The garden makes the most of a relatively limited space (492-ft by 656-ft), built on several terraces connected by double flights of stairs. The highest part of the garden is divided into two sections by a water staircase. In the lower area, there are parterres with flower beds and XVIII century fountains. Inside the park, there is a “green theatre” built in the second half of the XVII century, a labyrinth – the only of the villas in Lucca – and a building intended for bathrooms.

The garden is dominated by the statue of Fame which is depicted blowing into a shell spraying a very high jet of water. There are several terracotta statues: some are copies of sculptures from Alexandria or Baroque creations, while others depict everyday life subjects.

This post is also available in: Italiano (Italian)