Art Nouveau Villas in Lucca - The ring road along the walls

The suggested itinerary begins in the area of St Anna in Via Carlo Angeloni, a cross-road of Viale Lazzaro Papi, and where at number 61 you find a little villa dating back to the 1920's, particularly noteworthy for the painted eaves fascia depicting figures. Continuing along Viale Papi, the villa and its garden residing at number 69 which sits on the corner of Via Angeloni, is characterized by the presence of a turret and stylistic and decorative motifs similar to those of the first little villa , but developed and emphasised in the interesting angular solution of the allotment. In the immediately following allotment at number 59, there is another little villa which is significant given its articulated base which complies with the irregularity of the allotment, and particularly for the presence of its bow-window /turret on the main front and another turret on the back façade. The eaves are decorated with a very refined painted fascia featuring leaf motifs.
You continue along the ring road in a southerly direction towards the train station passing Via Catalani (see Sant'Anna itinerary), in order to arrive at viale Giosuè Carducci. The first stretch of it represents an unicum example, very significant of this architectural period.
In first place, a group of four little terraced villas numbered 719, 715, 701 and 697 respectively must be pointed out . They are very simple in both base and decoration, but are marked by the presence of a decorative polychrome fascia featuring storks on the corner of via Pascoli (number 697).
At this point it is worth taking an internal detour veering right at the crossing at viale Carducci into via Giovanni Pascoli, where architectural activity at the beginning of the last century has left many interesting noteworthy examples. The most significant of these include the little villas at numbers 30 and 97, both neo-renaissance in style. There is another at number 56 showing representative 1920's characteristic traits, typical of modernist architecture, in both plan and decoration, which is emphasised by a fascia of painted drawings running along the eaves. The little Malerbi palace presently called Dinelli at number 94 is also particularly characteristic. Turning into via Idelfonso Nieri, two little palaces, numbers 92 and 95 which sit in front of each other are eclectic in taste and are significant as they are twins, one sitting on one side of the road and the other on the other.
Back on viale Carducci, you will find two little villas at number 559 and 627 which are characterised by an articulated base with an open veranda structure looking onto the back garden and a terrace above. The decorative motifs on both of these little villas are traditional. In the first one, a high eaves fascia which also surrounds parts of the windows are painted with floral motifs in garlands of flowers, ribbons and knots while in the second, the painted fascia focuses on neo 1400 Florentine subjects such as cupids, cornucopias, vases with flowers and ribbons as well as squares reminiscent of Chini's art. This second villa is the present seat of the Symphonic School of Music.
The little villa at numbers 523-545 does not have any particular decoration but is significant for the originality of its angular structure where the Modernist designed curvilinear façade gently follows the path of the ring road. Finally, the little villa at number 521 is to be mainly remembered for its eaves fascia which is painted and decorated in monochrome featuring motifs of plants and scrolls on a green background.
Continuing along the avenue in an easterly direction, a most interesting building is found at number 111 which is called Villa Sarti and presently hosts the "Istituto Villa Goiosa". Number 67/79 should also be pointed out. It is a palace with a garden of eclectic taste and is presently the seat of the local health unit.