Villa Grabau is a Renaissance-style villa in the hills about 7 km from Lucca, set within a 9-hectare botanical park. Its formal Italian garden contains century-old citrus trees in terracotta pots, while the English garden has monumental trees and shaded paths. The restored Limonaia, an historic lemon house with oval windows framed in Matraia stone, is used for wedding dinners and events. This is chiefly a private-event venue rather than a standard sightseeing stop. If you are planning a visit, check access in advance; spring and early autumn suit the gardens.
A villa above Lucca
Villa Grabau stands in the hills about 7 km from Lucca, within a 9-hectare botanical park. The Renaissance-style residence was built on an earlier structure dated to 1412. The Diodati family, merchants from Lucca, owned it from the beginning of the 16th century.
The villa is furnished with period pieces and paintings. Its setting among the hills and gardens gives the estate a strong connection to Lucca’s historic villa country, while the grounds offer a range of spaces for outdoor events.
Gardens from citrus pots to monumental trees
The Italian garden holds around a hundred century-old citrus trees, planted in terracotta pots marked with the coats of arms of earlier owners. It is a distinctive part of the estate, combining formal planting with the historical details of the pots.
The English garden has monumental trees and winding paths. Elsewhere, terraces decorated with black-and-white mosaics lead through the grounds, with fountains among the garden features. A grotesque fountain in the woods is attributed to the circle of sculptor Pietro Tacca.
The Limonaia and event spaces
The Limonaia is the villa’s historic lemon house, restored for use as an event space. Its oval windows are framed with blocks of Matraia stone. The building is used for wedding dinners, while gardens and outdoor areas provide settings for ceremonies and photographs.
Ceremony options include the Box Hedge Theatre, the English garden and the lemon-garden amphitheatre. The grounds also include shaded areas under large trees. Villa Grabau is best considered in the context of a wedding or private event; access for a casual visit is not established here, so arrange it with the venue before making the trip.
Perguntas frequentes
How far is Villa Grabau from Lucca?
The villa is in the hills about 7 km from Lucca.
What can you see in the gardens?
The Italian garden has around a hundred century-old citrus trees in terracotta pots. The English garden has monumental trees, and the wider grounds include mosaic-decorated terraces and fountains.
Can you visit Villa Grabau without attending an event?
The villa is primarily a wedding and private-event venue. Contact it in advance to check whether a visit is possible.
What is the Limonaia?
It is the villa’s restored historic lemon house, with oval windows framed in Matraia stone. It is used as a wedding dinner space.
