Villa Mansi is a country palace and gardens located in Segromigno in Monte, near

Capannori Capannori () is an Italian town and ''comune'' in the province of Lucca, in northern Tuscany. History The 40 hamlets of Capannori are located on the lands that once corresponded to the eastern territories of the Republic of Lucca. Most of those ...

, about 12 kilometers northeast of the city of

Lucca Città di Lucca ( ; ) is a city and ''comune'' in Tuscany, Central Italy, on the Serchio River, in a fertile plain near the Ligurian Sea. The city has a population of about 89,000, while its Province of Lucca, province has a population of 383,9 ...

in the region of

Tuscany Tuscany ( ; ) is a Regions of Italy, region in central Italy with an area of about and a population of 3,660,834 inhabitants as of 2025. The capital city is Florence. Tuscany is known for its landscapes, history, artistic legacy, and its in ...

, Italy.

Biography

The villa was initially constructed in the 16th century by the Benedetti family, who sold the villa to the Cenami family, who included the Abbot Paolo Cenami, in 1599. The architect

Muzio Oddi Muzio or Mutio Oddi (15 December 1569 – 15 December 1639) was an Italian mathematician and Gnomonist. Biography He was born to Lisabetta Genga and Lattanzio Oddi. His initial training was in eloquence and philosophy, but he later trained unde ...

rebuilt the villa and gardens starting in 1634. The unusual facade has two wings flanking a central portico with thin double columns, accessed by a double ramped stairwell. In 1675 the property was acquired by Ottavio Mansi, from a wealthy silk merchant family, and during the 18th century, still owned by this family, the villa underwent major refurbishment under the guidance of the architect Giusti, provided with

Rococo Rococo, less commonly Roccoco ( , ; or ), also known as Late Baroque, is an exceptionally ornamental and dramatic style of architecture, art and decoration which combines asymmetry, scrolling curves, gilding, white and pastel colours, sculpte ...

touches such as statuary and a roofline balustrade. However, the gardens and fountains/water works were theatrical masterworks designed by

Filippo Juvarra Filippo Juvarra (7 March 1678 – 31 January 1736) was an Italian architect, scenographer, engraver and goldsmith. He was active in a late-Baroque architecture style, working primarily in Italy, Spain, and Portugal. Biography Juvarra was born ...

. The interiors were painted by Stefano Tofanelli, including mythologic themes such as the ''Trial of Midas'', the ''Death of Marysias'', and a large ceiling fresco depicting the ''Triumph of Apollo''. The villa and the gardens have been modified in the following centuries. The gardens acquired a more ''natural'' and less formal layout. The gardens still retain scenic setpieces with grottoes. The villa and gardens are open to tours. It lies close to Villa Mazzarosa and Villa Torrigiani.Villas and Palaces of Lucca
official site.

References

Mansi Mansi may refer to: * Mansi people, an Indigenous people of Russia ** Mansi language *Mansi (name), given name and surname *Mansi Junction railway station * Mansi Township, Myanmar ** Mansi, Myanmar, a town in the Kachin State of Myanmar (Burma) * ...

Historic house museums in Italy Mansi {{Italy-museum-stub