Palazzo della Magione del Tempio (Mansion of the Temple Palace), Lucca

Tucked away on Piazza della Magione in Lucca, the Mansion of the Temple Palace (Palazzo della Magione del Tempio) carries centuries of layered history, from its origins as a Templar headquarters to its transformation under the Knights of Malta and beyond. The palace owes its name to the Magione del Tempio, a complex that likely included not just a church, but also an ancient hospital—a common feature of Templar sites.

The church—once an integral part of the complex—was officially suppressed in 1808 due to Napoleonic decrees, enthusiastically enforced by Elisa Baciocchi, Napoleon Bonaparte’s sister. Today, the northeast corner of the palace façade, painted red, marks the former location of this lost place of worship.

In the late 19th century, the palace underwent significant alterations, including the addition of new windows and the removal of noble coats of arms from the façade, erasing much of its aristocratic character.

First designed in the 17th century in a classic Italian style, the palace’s garden thrived until its decline in the 19th century. By 1940, a revival was underway, led by Bianchini, a gardener from the Botanical Garden of Lucca, who enriched it with a diverse array of flora.

Today, the garden features a network of gravel pathways surrounding irregularly shaped flowerbeds bordered by rustic stone curbs. Among its most notable specimens are a persimmon tree, wild pear trees, an olive tree, a palm tree, and a topped elderberry. A laurel plant shelters a naturally growing acanthus, adding to the organic charm of the space.

The garden’s rare Araucaria bidwillii, uncommon in Lucca’s climate, survived severe damage in 1985 and regenerated, though later pruned from 15 to 11 meters to protect the palace roof. Despite its changes, the Mansion of the Temple Palace reflects Lucca’s layered past, from a Templar stronghold to a botanical retreat, where history and nature quietly endure.