V
illa Orsucci, a 16th‑century residence on the outskirts of Lucca, Italy, is now on the market—a rare chance to own a property steeped in Bonaparte heritage. The estate, spanning 26,000 square feet, was purchased in 1836 by Caroline Bonaparte, Napoleon’s younger sister and former queen consort of Naples. Though her reign was brief, her Tuscan ties left a lasting imprint on the villa.
Originally built in the 1500s, the villa was extensively reimagined in the early 1700s by silk merchant Coriolano Orsucci, who commissioned Baroque architect Filippo Juvarra to expand and modernize the home. The result is a grand, three‑storey structure with an attic and basement, featuring elaborate stucco, monumental canvases by Pier Dandini, and a double‑height central salon—the largest of its kind in Lucca’s villas. Surrounding reception halls, a game room, a formal dining area, and the famed “Red Room” showcase period furnishings; the latter hides a modern heating system beneath silk‑covered walls, with every steel element custom‑painted to match the brocade.
The 14.8‑acre grounds blend formal parkland, olive groves, and meadows. Boxwood hedges, terracotta statues, and centuries‑old plantings line gravel paths. An 18th‑century church retains its original design, while a 2,150‑square‑foot lemon house shelters over 100 citrus trees each winter and doubles as an event venue. Two swimming pools are in use, a third awaits restoration, and a heliport offers quick international access. The property also includes a five‑bedroom annex, each room with its own bath, and an old stone wash house that could be converted into additional accommodations.
Bids are expected to start above $11.7 million, with projections ranging from $17 million to $23 million. Lionard Luxury Real Estate, the listing agent, emphasizes that this is not merely a villa but a “trophy asset.” CEO Dimitri Corti notes that the global market now seeks unique historical pieces, and Villa Orsucci offers ownership of the last available chapter of the Bonaparte legend—a blend of modern comfort and absolute historical fidelity that makes it an intelligent, highly desirable investment.
Villa Orsucci is the only Bonaparte‑linked estate currently available in the Lucca area; the other two—Elisa Bonaparte’s Villa Reale di Marlia and Pauline Bonaparte’s Villa Paolina—remain in private hands. Lionard’s promotional materials highlight the trio as “three sisters, three icons, three unofficial queens of Tuscany,” underscoring the rarity of owning one of these legendary properties.
