History of Villa Michaela
Villa Michaela, previously Villa Nottolini, belongs to the Rhode family, and is situated at the foot of the Zano mountain, only a short distance from the “pieve” of Vorno.
The original building dates back to the 15th century, but through the years there have been many changes and the current aspect of the villa is that of the early 1800’s when it was purchased by the Nottolini family. The main façade faces north, and has a large door with architrave and stone frames. A similar entrance on the south side of the building grants access to the lemon garden, with its fountain, flowerbeds, paths and pergolas. The main house has three floors and a basement.
The estate includes several other buildings such as the Limonaia, which is where the lemon trees were traditionally stored each winter. This extension is now a beautifully decorated full service kitchen where we host cooking school demonstrations and relaxed breakfasts for groups staying in the villa.
Particularly special to Villa Michaela is the private “Annunziata Chapel”, which dates back to the 18th century. This building is not only of historic and artist interest, but also hosts wedding ceremonies and opera recitals, with the atmospheric addition of a grand piano.
The Annunziata has been owned through the years by different families; the Giglis, the Macariuis, the Simibaldis, the Carbolanes, and the Lucchesinin, and at the beginning of the 19th century it passed to the Nottolini family. The Nottolinis restored the house, and between 1860 and 1870 rebuilt the chapel to a public chapel which held mass every Sunday, and even had its own priest. Each year on the 25th of March, big feasts were held with luminary processions and food was given to the poor people of Vorno. The chapel has a fine neo-classic façade, with an arch on the upper part of the building portraying floral motives and the Annunciation. You arrive at the chapel by a driveway built in 1910 after the old road of Valle, which passed in front of the Annunziata, was made private by the Capannori commune.
In the last century, Villa Nottolini was owned by the Basttananis, the Ciurlanis and the Rossis. The current owners purchased the villa in 1985 and carefully restored the house and all its frescoes, transforming it into Villa Michaela, a modern and picturesque property, without spoiling any of its original beauty.
