National Museum of Villa Guinigi, Lucca

The National Museum of Villa Guinigi is Lucca’s most significant art museum, preserving the city's artistic heritage from antiquity to the 18th century. Housed in a striking late-Gothic villa built between 1413 and 1418, the museum is deeply connected to the history of the city. The building was originally commissioned as a Villa di Delizia (pleasure residence) by Paolo Guinigi, the ruler of Lucca from 1400 to 1430. After his downfall, the republic confiscated the property, and it served various purposes until it was chosen in 1924 to host Lucca’s extensive art collection, previously kept in the Palazzo Pubblico. In 1948, the villa was transferred to the Italian state, leading to a major reorganization and conservation effort that ultimately divided the collection between Villa Guinigi and Palazzo Mansi.

The museum presents a chronological journey through Lucca’s artistic and cultural evolution. The collection features archaeological artifacts dating back to the 8th century BC, along with medieval, Renaissance, Baroque, and Neoclassical masterpieces. Many of the paintings once belonged to Lucca’s churches, complemented by excavated relics, acquisitions, and private donations. The museum’s exhibits highlight the work of both local artists and foreign masters who contributed to the city’s religious and secular artistic legacy.

Beyond paintings and sculptures, the museum showcases a remarkable selection of applied arts, including 15th-century wooden inlays, reflecting the refined craftsmanship of the period. The grand brick façade, with its porticoed entrance, stands as a testament to the villa’s noble past, now repurposed as a treasure trove of Lucca’s visual and material culture.