1920s Art-nouveau Villa For Sale On The Apuan Alps

On the Apuan Alps, in the province of Lucca, in Tuscany, there is this splendid 1920s villa converted into a luxury hotel for sale. Its setting is strategic for visiting the entire area of the Middle Serchio valley, full of medieval villages that develop along the river. This enchanting Art Nouveau villa, finely decorated by local painter Bruno Cordati, has three levels and measures 1,100 square metres. What makes this villa truly extraordinary is its main tower, crowned by a beautiful open porch that overlooks a 3,000-sqm manicured garden with a swimming pool offering breathtaking views of the surrounding landscape.

The villa was commissioned by Leonello Castelvecchi in 1924. Leonello Castelvecchi, of humble peasant origins, emigrated in search of fortune first to the United States and later to Scotland, to Largs, a small town by the River Clyde not far from Glasgow. From a modest business selling ice cream, he quickly managed to build an empire in the restaurant industry. In 1924, still linked to his Tuscan roots, he commissioned the construction of this villa to be used as a holiday home. In 2000, the villa was purchased by one of his descendants to be transformed into a hotel, with a commitment to preserving the original architecture and atmosphere that make it unique. In the following years, renovation works were carried out to bring it to its current splendor.

The villa was designed in the 1920s and built in the Art Nouveau style, enriched with architectural and pictorial details, fine marble, wrought iron railings, fine wood fixtures and custom-made crystals, with the addition of Murano glass chandeliers and Florentine fabrics. The peculiarity of this villa lies in its unmistakable period style, which has not been suffocated by modernity. The villa has 12 spacious and bright bedrooms, each with its own uniqueness and characteristics. All 12 rooms have been preserved in their original Art Nouveau style, from the furniture to the original frescoes by painter Bruno Cordati. The rooms are equipped with every comfort, keeping the original features intact.

The most distinctive feature of the villa is certainly its Art-Nouveau-style tower, which houses a beautiful portico on the top floor, open on four sides and offering a fabulous panoramic view of the Apuan Alps and the private garden. The villa is surrounded by a big leafy garden with a terraced area that also houses a swimming pool, ideal for relaxing and cooling off during the hot summer days.

This Art Nouveau villa from the 1920s is the perfect place for an unforgettable stay among the nature and tranquility of the Apuan Alps. Its location is one of the most fascinating in Tuscany, not far from the renowned coasts of Versilia and the historic town of Lucca.