Villa Torrigiani stands on via del Gomberaio in Camigliano, a village of Capannori, and dates from the second half of the sixteenth century. It is first recorded in 1593 as belonging to the Buonvisi family; it then passed to Nicolao Santini, ambassador of the Republic of Lucca at Versailles, who at the end of the seventeenth century rebuilt the south front in Baroque style, probably inspired by French architecture. In 1816 Vittoria Santini married Pietro Guadagni, who took his mother's name, Torrigiani, to inherit the family's property and the title of marquis.
What to see
The main front stands out for its colours: grey stone and yellow tuff alternating in the pillars and arches, white marble statues, ochre plaster below and white above. A great fan-shaped staircase rises to a serliana, repeated larger on the upper floor, with two balconies adorned with statues and a small dome on top; the decoration was the work of the Bolognese architect Alfonso Torregiani. The late Renaissance rear has a large Tuscan portico; inside are an elliptical staircase, stuccoes and, in the attic, a small private theatre.
The approach avenue is marked by a row of cypresses about 700 metres long; at its end, by the gate, is a small hamlet once meant for the staff. The park, laid out by the Santini around 1650 and transformed in the nineteenth century, keeps the round pool, the secret garden of Flora and above all the Nymphaeum of the Winds, with a tunnel passage under the steps, grottoes with dragons, serpent-women, owls, pebble mosaics and a statue of Flora.
Visiting
The villa was a set for Una su tredici, of 1969, with Vittorio De Sica and Sharon Tate, and for some interior scenes of Mario Monicelli's Il marchese del Grillo. Opening times and visiting arrangements should be checked beforehand.
Our editors' tip
Watch out for the water jokes: the marquis used them to surprise guests, who sheltering in the little temple of Flora ended up soaked by water pouring from the dome.
