The recently restored Villa rises on the remains of a medieval parish church which once controlled the commercial route from Pisa to Volterra and Siena. From some documents dating back to 855, the church - a property of Lucca diocese - was of great importance because of its rich patrimony which included 14 suffragan churches.
In the XIV century the church lost its preminence because of a series of communal wars: people preferred going to mass in the surrounding fortified castles instead of taking the risk to go to a country church. Thus, in 1466 the church of S. Maria a Suvigliana ceased its functions. In 1575 the Bishop of Lucca ordered to restore it and to name it S. Marco a Suvigliana.
In 1622 the parish church was reduced to a simple oratory because benefit given to S. Miniato diocese had been suppressed.
About 1750 there were some collapses in the left nave, of which today have been brought to light the foundations. In 1816 the Bishop Pietro Fazzi ordered to profane the oratory and to built the episcopal residence as his villa: this remained property of S. Miniato bishops income until the beginning of 1900, when it was bought by Prof. Rachah and, after the Second World War, tranformed in a Farming School for the young Jews destined to Israelite kibbutzes.
In 1992 the complex was purchased by San Marco society. The enormous restoration works and the outdoor reorganization of gardens and parks give the visitor the special feeling to be in the Middle Ages again.
