Redesigned by Filippo Juvarra
in the early 18th century, the garden of Palazzo Pfanner is located in the historic center of Lucca, near the city walls, from the top of which one can catch distant glimpses of unparalleled beauty.
With its strikingly theatrical character, this Italian-style garden unfolds in seven geometric lawn areas, each bordered by gravel paths lined with antique lemon pots.
At the heart of the garden lies an octagonal fountain, set at the center of the main avenue that connects the Palazzo to the limonaia. The latter, featuring large windows framed by espaliered bitter orange and laurel trees, has served for centuries as a shelter and winter refuge for potted citrus plants.
Along the central avenue, elegant statues depicting allegorical and mythological figures enhance the sense of depth and grandeur. Perpendicular to this path, the garden extends into a captivating layout featuring two 19th-century bamboo groves and two charming laurel cabinets. Both walkways are beautifully lined with a wealth of antique lemon pots, interspersed with fragrant rose bushes.
With its theatrical charm, manicured hedges, graceful marble statues, and the refined architecture that surrounds it, the garden offers an airy and harmonious atmosphere. Perfectly integrated with Lucca’s historic city walls and the nearby bell tower of the Basilica of San Frediano, it forms a truly enchanting landscape—an unmissable destination for lovers of art, nature, and history.
In the mid-19th century, the part of the garden facing the Palazzo became home to the artisan brewery of Felix Pfanner, an Austrian brewmaster from Hörbranz who came to Lucca following a 1845 decree by Duke Carlo Ludovico of Bourbon, who had requested “a skilled German beer maker” for himself and for the city.
