Palazzo Pfanner, Lucca

4 more images

Palazzo Pfanner turned out to be my favourite museum in Lucca. For 5.50 Euros, you can have access to the palazzo and its beautiful gardens. Dating back to the 1660s, the palazzo is named after Felix Pfanner, an Austrian brewer who was invited to Lucca in 1846 to teach people how to brew beer. At first, Pfanner only rented a few rooms in the palazzo, but soon enough he decided to establish himself in Lucca and, thanks to how successful the Pfanner Brewery turned out to be, he was eventually able to buy it. It doesn't take very long to visit the part of the residence that's open to the public, but it's still worth checking it out to get an idea of what a 17th century Toscan palazzo looks like inside. The real treat, however, are the gardens. Designed and built in the 18th century under the supervision of Filippo Juvarra, they are often described as Tuscany's best example of Italian-style gardens. The gardens, with their statues, fountain and gorgeous lemon trees, have been featured in quite a few movies, including Jane Campion's "Portrait of a Lady", starring Nicole Kidman. Something I thought was particularly interesting was to read the pannels that included excerpts from 19th century travel books describing the gardens and the palazzo - it was kind of neat to imagine that 200 years ago, another tourist had perhaps stood in the exact same spot, taking in all the beauty of the gardens :o)

Palazzo Pfanner is open from April to October, from 10:00 am to 6:00 pm.

2 more images

This palace was built in the second half of the XVII century for the Moriconi family. They were noble silk merchants. In 1680 the property was taken over by the Contarini; another family of noble merchants. In the second half of the ninethenth century the palace was bought by an Austrian brewer; Felix Pfanner who was asked to come to Lucca in 1846 by duke Carlo Lodovico di Borbone who wished a skilled brewer to make beer in town.

Inside this palace you can see an old kitchen, some nice rooms and a collection of surgical instruments belonged to Pietro Pfanner; son of Felix.

Palazzo Pfanner has a beautiful garden with statues representing the four seasons and some divinities. You can see this garden from the town walls.

The Palazzo Pfanner worths a visit not only the inside of this 17th century villa is amazing but overall the magnificent gardens in which you found yourself back on time.
The environment and the place itself is gorgeous and you can spend lot of time there while is open.

We pass by and didn´t stop a lot because a matter of time. However I will come back and take my time there.

2 more images

While there is a museum in Palace Pfanner, I didn't visit it. Instead, I walked through the small, quaint garden area that's really only good for about ten minutes or so. But it is really beautiful and if you're looking for an escape of sorts from all the narrow streets and brick and mortar, this is a nice relaxing oasis.

Summer opening: daily 10.00 to 18.00

4 more images

This was one of the nicest tours we took inside the walls. Tours for the home and grounds are offered. The price is 6 euro for both, and 3 euro if only the grounds. The home was redone very well and you are allowed to take pictures. The grounds are the outstanding part to remember, however. They are well maintained and filled with statues. it was a treat to relax in this splendor. The home dates back to 1667 construction

A pleasant surprise that I came across while just wondering around the walls. Palazzo Pfanner, built in 1667, has all the characteristics of a late 16th century building. The garden is completely original. There is a beautiful wide staircase that leads to the great elegant loggia overlooking the 18th century italian style garden.

At the centre of the garden there is a poligonal pond sorrounded by statues , flower-beds and groups of plants; there are also big terracotta vases with lemons,according to the Tuscan tradition.

This elegant imposing house (1667) has a beautiful outside staircase. It also boasts one of Tuscany's most delightful formal gardens. Laid out in the 18th century, the garden's central avenue is lined with Baroque statues of the gods and goddesses of ancient Roman mythology. The garden can also be viewed while walking along the ramparts (see photo).

The house itself contains a collection of court costume of the 18th and 19th centuries. Many garments are made of silk, whose production accounted for much of Lucca's medieval wealth.

This Palazzo is a nice place to visit. You can visit the house and garden. You will enter the palazzo through a very wide entrance hall. A pompous staircase will bring you to the first floor where you can visit some rooms.

Palazzo Pfanner, built around 1667 and belonged to the homonym successful chirurg, is a typical example of the architecture of that period. There is a beautiful wide staircase leading to the great elegant balcony overlooking the beautiful garden, facing the city Walls.
The 18th century italian style garden has a huge collection of plants and statues surrounding a fountain pond.
Inside the palace there is an exhibition of the instruments belonged to Dr. Pfanner and, in general, of the lifestyle of a rich and famous man in the old 17th century.
The palace is very easy to see if you walk on the Walls... just beside the apse of San Frediano church you can find the garden and the rear of the palace.

This palazzo formerly belonged to Mr. Pfanner a successful chirurg who lived in this house which was build in 1667. You can visit the palazzo and the beautiful garden and I would recommend both. The palazzo shows some instruments Dr. Pfanner used, some are quite scary I think, and it shows how life was in that kind of position.... The barock garden with its lemon trees is really beautiful!