By Chiara Sebastiani
There are places that are not limited to framing a wedding but become an integral part of the story being told. The Badiola, on the hills of Lucca, is one of these. More than a monumental villa, it is a seventeenth-century country house, surrounded by vineyards, olive groves and cypresses, where history, hospitality and agricultural production coexist in a natural way.
Today the estate is guarded and carried on by Romina Mariotti and her daughter Chiara Butori: Romina follows the agricultural soul and the cellar of the company, while Chiara takes care of the reception, events and weddings. Two distinct but deeply intertwined roles, which make La Badiola not just a location, but a living, authentic reality, deeply linked to the territory.
The history of the villa has its roots in the early seventeenth century, when it was built as a country residence by the Arnolfini couple, famous silk makers from Lucca. In the following centuries, the property went through important families and historical periods, leaving signs that are still clearly visible today: from the coat of arms of the Sirti, an ancient family linked to telecommunications, to the period in which Villa Badiola belonged to Elisa Baciocchi Bonaparte, Napoleon’s sister and sovereign of Lucca and Tuscany.
It was Elisa Baciocchi who gave an agricultural imprint to the estate, having the historic cellar built at the beginning of the nineteenth century and planting French vines, flanked today by native Tuscan vines. A vision that Romina has taken up and carried forward, transforming the villa also into an organic farm that produces wines and extra virgin olive oil, an integral part of the experience offered to guests and newlyweds.
During the nineteenth century, Villa La Badiola became the home of Count Contz, admiral and seaman, who left a deep imprint on the structure: from the fine wood furnishings to the inlays made with essences from all over the world, up to the consecration of the chapel of San Giorgio. Thanks to this legacy, today La Badiola is one of the very few villas in the area that can host religious weddings, as well as civil and symbolic ceremonies, being also recognized as a municipal house by the Municipality of Lucca.
Since 1986 the villa has come back to life thanks to the Buttori family, who have restored it with respect and sensitivity, without distorting its soul. Today the management of weddings and events is largely entrusted to Chiara, who accompanies couples step by step, from the first inspection to the wedding day. A work made up of listening, availability and care, which often lasts even a year or more, especially in the case of destination weddings.
La Badiola does not offer pre-packaged packages: every wedding is different and tailor-made. The bride and groom have all the outdoor spaces and the ground floor of the villa at their disposal, with large gardens, historic halls and natural views that change with the seasons. The freedom of choice is total, supported by a network of local suppliers selected over the years, without constraints or forced partnerships.
Among the most popular spaces is the central garden, with the three cypresses and the fountain overlooking the plain of Lucca: an iconic setting, often chosen for civil and symbolic ceremonies. The large centuries-old cedar tree, under which weddings are celebrated surrounded by nature, is also very popular. For the interiors, the jewel is the Salone della Seta, an ancient noble floor very bright, with parquet, coffered ceilings and walls covered in silk, which can be used on request for intimate ceremonies or for the preparation of the bride.
Alongside weddings, La Badiola is also a versatile location for corporate events and private parties. Here there is space for meetings, conferences, business dinners, anniversaries, birthdays, graduations and family anniversaries, with flexible formats ranging from business meetings followed by a light lunch to the most convivial evening event. These are accompanied by an increasingly rich experiential proposal: wine tours with tasting, cooking classes related to seasonal and garden products, pizza parties in the historic wood-fired oven and even yoga sessions in the vineyards or in the historic rooms, designed for those looking for a moment of well-being surrounded by nature. Experiences that allow you to experience the villa not only as a place, but as time to devote to yourself.
What strikes those who arrive in La Badiola is not only the beauty of the place, but the atmosphere. As the bride and groom themselves often say, the villa was chosen because “it is not pompous”, but authentic. An elegant but welcoming residence, surrounded by vineyards and olive groves, which gives the idea of a real Tuscan country house. An aspect particularly appreciated by foreigners, who find here the most sincere image of Tuscany they imagined.
Alongside the wedding day, La Badiola also offers all the experiences that revolve around the wedding: welcome dinner, farewell brunch the next day, tastings and experiences for guests who come from afar. A way to transform the wedding into a real experiential stay, made up of conviviality, good food and shared time. In many cases, the wines produced by the La Badiola farm become the protagonists of the toasts, as well as the bottles of extra virgin olive oil, often chosen as a wedding favor by the bride and groom.
While Chiara accompanies the couples in the construction of their special day, Romina continues to passionately follow the winery and the vineyards surrounding the villa, keeping alive that link between land, history and hospitality that makes La Badiola a unique place.
Because here you don’t just come to get married, but to live a complete experience, where love meets history, nature and the fruits of a land cultivated with care.
Info: Azienda Agricola La Badiola / Via del Parco 868, San Pancrazio, Lucca / info@labadiola.it / www.labadiola.it / Tel.+39 328 1510088
