Villa Barsocchini is located in a privileged position in the hills of Lucca, at La Cappella, a place that has always been strategic for its view stretching as far as Volterra and San Miniato. Its origins date back to Etruscan times, when the first settlements were established here, followed in the Lombard era by the construction of a watchtower, which can still be seen inside the villa. Over the centuries, a fortified village developed around the tower, which became a fortress and then a noble residence.
Between the 15th and 16th centuries, the property passed to the Menocchi family and then, through a marriage with the Mansi family, was transformed into the elegant Villa Lucchese that we still admire today, built according to the designs of the architect Samminiati. Cubic in shape, with a loggia, intimate garden, and frescoed interiors, the Villa was the center of economic and cultural life for centuries, hosting bishops, intellectuals, and artists. In the 18th century, it came into the possession of the scholar Abbot Domenico Barsocchini, who gave it its current name and linked it forever to the history of Lucca.