Not Everybody may know…

Today I would like to spend some words about the breathtaking countryside around Lucca.

I must to do it as you know what to expect. The typical inquire I daily receive is for a villa with garden, pool and panorama located near Lucca and within a walking or cycling distance to a small village in order to but bread and groceries for the day. Preferably walking distance to a restaurant – not expensive – also. Wi-fi and air conditioning is very appreciated, often a “must be”.
Well, I am very sorry to say that something like that… almost… does not exist… not around Lucca… (except for very few exceptions in a unordinary price level).
In the common imaginary Lucca means Tuscany and Tuscany means Siena and Florence. Yes it is true. Lucca Siena and Florence belong to the same Region, Tuscany… but the surrounding countryside they offer is completely different one from each other…
that’s’ right the reason why Tuscany is consider one of the most beautiful land of the world… as its landscape is continuously changing… and one is better than the other.. but at the end you don t know which one you prefer. In one word you fall in love of Tuscany wherever you are holidaying….

Lucca’s countryside is very rural but it isn't like the most famous Tuscan sceneries of Siena or Florence's countryside, which is quite flat, with yellow rolling low hills with larger roads leading you from one small village to another one… but it is in fact the opposite. Usually between the Villa and Lucca there isn’ t anything.. no small villages spread all around where you can walk or cycle for a visit or for a coffee…

So first of all you must have a car, otherwise you'd literally be stranded. You will need it for everything, from going to the local restaurant to going grocery shopping or reaching the city. There is no form of public transportation in most areas, so you cannot depend on that. Unless you are professional cyclist or a mountain biker you cannot stay in our countryside without a car.

The roads usually run uphill amongst olive oil trees and vineyards, sometime also inside a wood, and they are narrow and steep most of the time, with lots of narrow bends and in complete countryside.
The entrances to the villa's are usually, again, very narrow and sometimes steep.

I am not trying to put you off, but just warning you and trying to give you a good idea of what it's really like, so you can be well prepared. I don t want you to spend a lot of time looking for something that cannot be found. So if you wish to holiday in a villa in Lucca’s countryside you probably have to do without the walk to the town in the morning... but in a short driving distance you find everything you may need...

Let me tell you! I was born in Lucca and grew up in the countryside and now I live within the city's walls.. I am very happy but I often miss my countryside, my wood, my olive oil trees and the panorama over the valley leading to the town..  but I am also very fortunate as my parents live still there and i can escape from everything in a "few" minutes driving....

I honestly stronlgy reccommend you to try the experience in our contryside ... you will enjoy an unforgettable atmosphere. In fact, the up-side to all of this, is that it is literally an escape from 'civilization', you have breath-taking panoramas (from some of the Villas you could see the big ferry boats leaving Livorno’s port about 40 km south of Lucca!!) , fresh air, complete peace and quiet and a beautiful countryside. It is the real Tuscan experience and not the touristy one. And most importantly, although it seems like you are in the middle of nowhere, Lucca with its art, all its squares, churches, stores, shops, groceries and restaurants is only 10 to 15 minutes away, so you are still close by, while still enjoying the beauty of the countryside.… You usually could not walk to the usually but you will drive to Lucca in 10 minutes.

Another important thing I want you to know is that in these areas there is usually no air conditioning (only fans) because there is no need. The countryside is very ventilated and has an opposite temperature to the cities, in fact you may even be a little cold at night without a light jumper on.

Usually it is almost impossible to find heated pools .



Often there is no internet broadband signal… even though works are in progress and day by day the most of the areas in the countryside are going to be provided with wifi. But don t forget to ask it… if you forget to mention it in your questions you may be disappointed!!

A Guided Tour of Pisa

During the 4 years I have been working as a tour guide I have always found myself trying to convince people that in Pisa there isn’t just the leaning tower (not only tourists but also Italians!). The city is to blame in many ways, because they count on the advertisement of one of the most famous monuments in the world and couldn’t care less about the rest of the city…as an obvious result, so do most of the tourists that come to visit. I have noticed that many people don’t even know that the famous leaning tower is nothing more than the bell tower to one of the most stunning cathedrals in Italy and that it is located in the so called Miracle SQUARE…hence, there are another 3 monuments and 2 museums in the same square; of these three monuments, all of them hold a historical and/or an architectural record and are all breathtaking. The fact that the square is surrounded by an array of cheap-looking, touristy market vendors that sell the same ‘made in China’ souvenirs (that nowadays you can find everywhere in the world) does not help the projected, world-wide, image of it at all. To make things worse, the main streets, that lead in to the square, are again filled with foreign, ‘in your face’, knick-knack vendors, bars and cafes that are way past tourist-traps, one of the most ‘historical’ McDonalds… and typical New York, Little Italy style restaurants… with the waiters desperately trying to pull you in, so they can feed you one of the most expensive pizzas that are around. So I fully understand the first impact people have when they arrive in Pisa…speaking of arriving, the station closer to the tower is Pisa San Rossore… You can literally read on people’s faces what they are thinking when they get off the train…’Where on earth have we landed? In the middle of nowhere?’, ‘Which way do we go now?’, ‘Where is someone we can ask for directions or even a map of the city?’… So at this point, you are probably thinking, why in the world is she trying to convince people to come to Pisa??!! One of the miracles of the so called Miracle Square (which by personal experience only works on people who are interested in history, art, architecture etc. and not by Cheap knick-knacks or McDonalds) is that it will enwrap you into a cocoon of beauty and amazement. Once you are in front or inside these architectural wonders, with someone (hopefully me) explaining and showing you all the details, that otherwise you’d miss, you will automatically forget about the surroundings of the square. So I can totally guarantee that you will not regret one little bit visiting this beautiful square accompanied by a tour guide, who will not only explain and make you appreciate the city, but will also save you from all these tourist traps and in my case, will come and pick you up from the station, so you don’t get lost! Finally, even if after all this, you are not totally convinced by my reasons, you still can't miss seeing one of the most famous monuments in the world! If you'd like to read further information on Pisa follow this link: http://www.mlftuscantours.it/en/itinerari/citta/pisa By Maria L. Felice

Don't Suffer in Silence!

Today I have added a new clause in my rental agreement.
I really want all my clients be very happy while staying in my properties!! that's my main aim.. and I strongly work for that. I mean.. I try to convince owners to provide the villa with everything you may need... but it can happen.. sometimes.. it can happen that a small items is missing... maybe something we haven' t tought to! or something special for you which is unusual for us... well don t worry! In the unlikely event that you are unhappy with your villa don’t suffer in silence! We want you to be as comfortable as possibile and really and enjoy your stay. So call me or call my colleague or call the owner immediately!!! if you don t speak I cannot know it! Tell me what the problem is, tell me what is missing... and I will do my best to provide it as soon as possible... if for any reasons the matter cannot be improved to your satisfaction, please go and buy it! I will refund you the amount.... :-))
It happens that you don' t call me during your stay so I suppose that everything is going smoothly.. then once back home you email to tell me that everything was fine except for that somewhat missing... I don t want you stay without the items you like. So don t hesitate to contact me!... Well, not everything will be possible.. so if you really need something very special please ask before making the reseravtion...
Another thing... each country has its own style of life.. way of life... and I think that travelling means respecting the host country's way of life.
The most of my guests ask me for a coffee maker and for a kettle. well now the most of my properties have them. but please keep in mind that it is out of our normal ways.
In italy you don t use a coffe maker nor a kettle. In Italy you use a MOKA for a (much more better!!) coffee!! try it! and in Italy you don' t boil water for tea in the kettle but into a small pot on the gas or into the microwave... it's easier! try and let me know...

Ah! last thing: you hardly find a dryer in your italian villa... but please don t go and buy a dryer. It is out my budget for the refund!! :-)

My Exclusive Lucca...

Have a Look at this wonderful property in our wonderful countryside

Al Casino Dei Papi Slideshow Slideshow: TripAdvisor™

Enjoy it!