Villa Orlando was built in 1869 in the new-gothic style. It is a hunting lodge on the bank of the Lake Massaciuccoli, a 7 square kilometres reservoir with an amazing and protected bird life. It is a severe building with a square plan and the insertion of a 25 metre tall tower with merlons in the south west corner. The Villa has three floors and the vaults underneath. From the top of the tower you enjoy a commanding view over the lake, the surrounding landscape and the mountains while in the distance you can see Pisa’s leaning tower, the Dome of the Cathedral and other small towns of the Tuscany countryside like Cascina and Volterra.
In the Villa there are 8 rooms at each floor, with a beautiful reception room overlooking the lake. At the second floor there is the historical library of the Orlando Family. The dining room has a handmade 19th Century wood panelling based on renascence Style and a big fireplace with decorated ceramic tiles. The vaulted ceilings are covered with frescoes. The kitchen retains its wood fire cooker. The main stairwell is in the centre of the building, 15 metres high, with a skylight at the top, in the centre of the roof. The steps are in stone, fitted directly into the wall.
The decorations, the floors, the furniture and the paintings are the original period ones.
The surrounding property is about 40,000 square meters, mainly covered by pine trees and oaks. It includes 150 meters of private lake front and the boat house. This is a separate stone building with a smaller tower the same style of the one of the Villa. The boats are moored inside and access the lake through a pointed arch. The belvedere roof terrace is covered with a mosaic marble floor.
The main access drive, about 300 metres long, is flanked by secular plane trees, alternated with palms and roses; there are several secondary paths and alleys.
The property is surrounded by a moat and partially by a stone wall with merlons in accordance with the dominating new gothic style. It is a very secluded and quiet location, sheltered away from the public.