Palazzo Bertolli (Bertolli Palace), Lucca

Bertolli Palace (Palazzo Bertolli), an imposing brick structure built between 1910 and 1912, stands just outside the Walled City of Lucca on Viale Cavour. This early 20th-century building is particularly noted for its striking decorative elements and its two distinctive towers with balconies that provide expansive views of the cityscape. Originally built for the Bertolli family, renowned in the olive oil industry, the palazzo is part of an architectural ensemble with Palazzo Lazzareschi Lazzeroni and another Bertolli residence, marking urban expansion beyond Porta S. Pietro.

The building, rectangular in shape, consists of three floors above ground level in addition to an attic. It features a pavilion-style roof covered with Marseillais tiles. Its internal layout is relatively straightforward but has undergone undocumented modifications over the years, particularly to accommodate its later use as a school. These alterations included the installation of an elevator in the two entrance halls. However, the grand granite staircase with its intricate wrought iron banister remains intact.

The façade facing north onto Viale Cavour is heavily ornamented with Art Nouveau-inspired decorations, making it one of the most visually captivating elements of the structure. Notably, the bas-reliefs adorning the window cornices of the upper floors are attributed to the Lucchese sculptor Gugliermo Petroni. The turrets that extend above the roofline further enhance the building’s grandeur, framing the entry doors, which are surmounted by terraces that protrude prominently. The south-facing façade, overlooking the railway, also displays meticulous craftsmanship.

Giuseppe Puccinelli designed the palace as a two-story structure, with a storeroom for Bertolli’s business below and two apartments above. A 1950s concrete extension on the west side added contrast to the original. Acquired by Lucca’s town council in the 1970s, the extension became a gym for "Pertini Institute." Though privately owned and closed to the public, Bertolli Palace remains a key part of Lucca’s early 20th-century architectural heritage.