Palazzo Pfanner

Overview

Palazzo Pfanner is an elegant 17th-century palace housing a Baroque Italian garden and a collection of medical instruments. The garden, framed by lemon trees and 18th-century statuary, was famously used as a filming location for Jane Campion's The Portrait of a Lady.

Highlights

• The Garden: An intimate Baroque parterre with marble statues representing the seasons and classical deities, bordered by potted lemon trees.
• Staircase: The monumental open staircase in the courtyard is a masterpiece of Baroque scenography.
• Medical Collection: The palace displays surgical instruments from the 18th–19th century, reflecting the Pfanner family's medical heritage.

History

Built in 1660 by the Moriconi family, the palace was purchased in 1860 by Felix Pfanner, an Austrian brewer who established Lucca's first beer brewery in its cellars. The garden was designed in the early 18th century and remains one of the few intact Baroque gardens within city walls in Italy.

Visitor Tips

• Wall Views: The garden can also be glimpsed for free from the adjacent city walls section.
• Combined Ticket: Garden-only or garden-plus-palace tickets are available.
• Duration: 30–45 minutes.