In 1971 Mimì Pecci Blunt, died and with her died a whole era. Particularly in the 1920’s, that decade of liberation in life-style and experimentation in the arts, the Villa Reale at Marlia in the Lucchesia was buzzing with parties to which famous guests were invited. They were able to enjoy the lovely park and gardens surrounding the neo-classical villa, Napoleon’s sister Elisa Baciocchi had redesigned and which was her favourite haunt when she was princess of Lucca.

Last weekend I too, became an invitee and was able to enjoy not only the lovely grounds but also a taster of twenties atmosphere. I went back in time and met some of Mimi’s guests as they too enjoyed the park and the villa on a glorious June Sunday afternoon.

It was an event in the nationwide “Appointment in the Garden” initiative which invites people to discover the surprising historical, artistic, botanical and landscape richness of Italian gardens. Villa Reale participated with an event in memory of countess Mimi and gave the opportunity to feel like one of the famous guests that she used to invite in her exquisite domain.

During the day there were historical re-enactments. For instance here part of Mimis record collection of interwar hits (in shellac of course) was played on an original HMV phonograph. It actually sounded surprisingly good – truly an authentic sound.

The exhibition of vintage vehicles included a 1923 Fiat Balilla and a fine USA Indian motorbike.

Anna-Laetitia Pecci-Blunt, known as Mimì, owner of Villa Reale from 1923 until 1971, the year of her death restored the Villa and the gardens, bringing them back to life after years of neglect; she spent her life in her salons in Paris, Rome, New York and that of Marlia, which she chose as a summer residence.

Mimi married Cecil Blunt in Paris in 1919, and in their Parisian salon one could meet well-known persons like Cocteau, Picasso, Braque, Diaghilev and his Ballets Russes, Dalì, Alberto Moravia, the Windsors and Gianni Agnelli. Jacques Gréber, an internationally renowned landscape architect worked on the restoration and extension of the park in the 1920s creating such fabulous layouts as the Moorish and the Lemon gardens.

I also visited the Pecci-Blunt museum housed in the old stables. I was unable to take any photographs but can say that the four main sections deal with the Pecci relationship to the Vatican (one of her ancestors became Pope Leo XIII), a fine library of books and old magazines, a music section with an old record collection and posters of concerts given in the Villa right up to the 1980s when Herbert Handt was musical director and a sweet collection of dolls from all over the world wearing their national costumes.

There is one question I have not yet managed to answer. What caused the Pecci-Blunts to sell the villa off in 2015 after years of neglect to the young Swiss couple who have brought it back to life with such panache. There was an original idea to turn the Villa Reale into a luxury hotel but fortunately this scheme never materialised. I am quite sure that with the current slump in the hospitality sector due to the pandemic the Villa would have severely suffered. The enterprising series of events which have been organised in these most difficult circumstances and the wonderful care and attention given to the restoration of both the villa and its grounds show that financially, at least, its future is safer.