The history
The history of the estate begins in the XIV century, or seven countries ago.The first owner we know of is Francesco Burlamacchi, Gonfaloniere of the Republic of Lucca from 1533 to his death in 1548. He is certainly behind the "Villa Grande", designed to show off the power and wealth of the Republic to all those traveling to and from the rival Republic of Pisa.As the head of a major conspiracy against the Medici family in Florence, he was trialed, charged and beheded in Pavia by the Holy Roman Emperor Charles V.
The property was auctioned off and bought by the Santini family, who owned it for over three hundred years.
The Santini are responsible for many of the key features of the Estate, like the frescoes inside the "Villa Grande", and the renovations of the "Villa Burlamacchi".
The property was later bought by Count Alfred Émilien O'Hara van Nieuwerkerke, a dutch-french sculptor, friend of Napoleon III and intendant des Beaux-Arts of the Emperor's Household, in 1872.
The Count lived in the "Villa Grande" with the Cantacuzène princesses until his death, working in his private "Atelier" and eventually giving the property as a dowry for the wedding of the Princess Olga Cantacuzène and the Prince Lorenzo Maria Guiseppe Altieri-Oriolo.
The heirs of the Princes Altieri sold the Villa to Paolo Rossi and Giuseppina "Giugi" Bagnara in 1940, our grandparents.
The Villa became a safe haven for many of those wanted by the fascists, who found shelter in the property, thanks to the fierce character of "Giugi".
Paolo, who had been wanted by the fascists himself, later went on to become a member of the Constitutional Assembly and Supreme Court.
Today, we continue their legacy by welcoming people of all backgrounds, ethnicities, faiths and sexual orientation.