Wawrzyniec Cezary Anichini

Who was Wawrzyniec Cezary Anichini?

Wawrzyniec Cezary Anichini was an Italian architect, active mostly in what is now the Republic of Lithuania.

Anichini arrived to the lands of the former Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth in 1812 as an engineer within Napoleon's Grande Armée. Following Napoleon's defeat in Russia he was captured as prisoner of war. Released by the Russians he settled in Vilna together with yet another Italian expatriate, Franciszek Andriolli. With time he polonised his surname and signed most his projects as Cezary Anichini.

Throughout most of his later life he served as an architect of the mighty Tyszkiewicz family. Among the most notable works are the reconstruction of Raudonė Castle, construction of churches in Raudondvaris and Biržai, and park of the Raudondvaris Castle.