ENDURING BEAUTY

Immortalised by Bernardo Bertolucci, the Bianchi Bandinelli family's stunning villa in Tuscany boasts centuries of history - and a close encounter with Hollywood star Liv Tyler too

- CRISTINA LORA ALARCON

If visitors feel there's something familiar about Tuscany's Villa di Geggiano, that's thanks to legendary film director Bernardo Bertolucci. He chose the picture-perfect house near Siena as one of the locations for his 1996 classic Stealing Beauty.

A career highlight for both Bertolucci and leading lady Liv Tyler, the film is as visually stunning as its title suggests. And if the beauty of its young star is breathtaking, so is that of the setting where her story unfolds.

Of course, for Villa di Geggiano's aristocratic owners, the Bianchi Bandinelli family, their home's enchanting nature hardly came as news.

They've been here since the 16th century, during which time they've seen it transformed from a modest medieval farm to the exquisite residence complete with walled garden and al fresco theatre - that we see today.

What's more, as Bianca Boscu Bianchi Bandinelli proudly tells us, there's plenty to discover behind the villa's lovely facade.

As she introduces us to her father Andrea, husband Theodor Bennet and children Orlando and Corrado, she explains that theirs is a winemaking dynasty, whose estate is renowned for outstanding Chianti Classico.

Bianca, tell us about the history of this house...

"It dates back to the 1300s, when it was a simple farm and olive oil mill. Over the centuries, it was gradually enlarged until, in 1768, Anton Domenico Bianchi Bandinelli married Cecilia Chigi Zondadari and it was completely transformed for their wedding.

"That's when the facade was added, as well as the formal garden and theatre."