Villa Cappella

Restored historic villa close to Lucca

• Country location in the hills above Lucca
• Garden and olive grove
• 2 Private pools
• Beautiful views
• Satellite TV
• DVD Player
• Computer
• Approx 1,300 square metres
• 10 - 15 mins from Lucca, 25 mins to Tuscan coast

Villa Cappella is an enormous historic villa that dates as far back as Etruscan times. Originally a watchtower (a part of which is incorporated into the villa today) it was developed into a villa in the 15 and 16th centuries and was owned by many illustrious Lucchese families. With 10 bedrooms and 9 bathrooms, it is perfect for a large group of 20 guests and provides incredibly spacious accommodation. Due to its exceptionally large size it is a wonderful venue for a special occasion or an event.

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Rental: Weekly, Saturday to Saturday

Prices include: Welcome groceries for 2 meals and 2 breakfasts, electricity, water, gas, linen & towels (changed weekly), final cleaning

Not included: Telephone, fax, internet, personal laundry, heating charged on amount consumed in Winter - costs €7 euros per cubic metre of gas- approx daily cost €120

Available on request:
Preparation of breakfast (excluding food), professional chef, medieval banquets can be organised as well as operatic singers, cooking lessons, trekking.

Security Deposit: €1,000 (euros) payable in cash on arrival, which is held and returned to you at the end of your stay.

Villa Cappella dates back to Etruscan times so has a extensive historic past. It later became a watchtower as it is in line with the hilltop town of San Miniato. It has also been a convent and then home to many illustrious Lucchese families. The villa itself dates back to the 15 -16th century when the watchtower was developed into the villa you see today. It is located in beautiful countryside close to Lucca. It has private garden and pool that is clever use of the original villa Pescheria. The garden extends into an olive grove that is part of the villa grounds and there are pretty views over the countryside. You can see the towers of Lucca in the near distance. The villa is incredibly spacious and spans three floors. The villa has been carefully restored by the owners who have kept the original room layout in tact. This provides huge communal living spaces traditional of Lucchese villas of the time. They have also taken a lot of time to select antique pieces in keeping with the history of the villa. Many pieces are very old indeed. Original fireplaces are in many of the rooms on all floors, including an impressive inglenook fireplace on the ground floor.

Villa Cappella

Sleeps 20

Ground Floor
This incredible villa has a large entrance gate leading into a gravel drive. The villa has a central staircase leading to the first floor and also an entrance door under the stairs into the ground floor. There is a large ground floor lounge / dining room with vaulted ceiling and satellite TV. Off the lounge there is a spacious twin bedroom and a bathroom with hydromassage shower. Off this area is a further large dining area with a door leading onto the garden and also a parlour with an inglenook fireplace and sofas. To the rear of the villa is a large country style kitchen with a 5 ring gas hob, oven large fridge freezer, dishwasher, original stone sink, antique cupboards. There is a laundry room.Also on the ground floor is a further twin bedroom and double bedroom that share a bathroom with bath with a large shower head in the bathtub.

First Floor
An original staircase leads up to the first floor. There is a small lounge area with large open fireplace. This part of the villa made up part of the original tower. This room leads into the enormous central lounge with original stone fireplace that spans 150 square metres. There are 4 large windows on either side of the villa and two large doors. One to t he front and one to the rear of the villa. The door to the rear leads onto a very spacious loggia with arches and columns that frame the views towards the valley and over to the olive grove. At one end of the loggia there are still some parts of the original frescoes, that adorned this fabulous outdoor space, still visible. On this floor there is also a music room , large dining room and an office with computer for use by guests at the villa. There is also a bathroom with toilet (no shower or bath facilities). An original stone stair case leads up to the attic floor.

Attic Floor
There is a small lounge area midway up to the attic floor. The attic floor has an impressive wooden beamed ceiling. It is an attic floor but has very high ceilings and large spacious rooms so the ceiling height is not a problem. Again as with the first floor there is a huge central lounge area with a very large open fireplace. Off each side of the lounge area are 4 twin bedrooms (can be made doubles) and one double bedroom and all have en suite bathrooms (two have bath tubs and the rest have showers). There is also a suite which has a double bed and an adjoining twin bedroom. This suite has its own bathroom with shower.

There are two swimming pools at Villa Cappella one to the rear (9 x 3mts) and one to the side (12 x 7mts). There are open views over the countryside all around the garden. The garden extends into an olive grove to the rear of the villa. There are tables, chairs and umbrellas to the side of the villa and a large dining table on the loggia for dining outside.

Planning your stay
Villa Cappella is an ideal central base from which to discover the many delights of Tuscany. The medieval walled town of Lucca is a 10 - 15 minute drive away and the Tuscan coast is only 25 mins. .

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The Leaning Tower of Pisa (30 minutes away as is Pisa airport).It is stunningly set in an open lawned piazza which also houses the Cathedral, Baptistery and Campo Santo Cemetery. Just over an hours drive will take you to the little port and town of Lerici overlooked by a cliff top castle from where boats leave every hour to Portovenere and the World Heritage site of the Cinque Terre, five dramatically cliff clinging villages. Renaissance Florence is just an hour away, either by train or car. Siena is an hour and a half away with possible stops on the way to San Gimignano and Monteriggioni , as is Chianti where you can arrange a wine-tasting at one of the many vineyards. For those interested in art and sculpture there are the impressive marble quarries of Carrara as well as the sculpture town of Pietrasanta. Forte dei Marmi is a lively beach stop with some great shopping as you join the masses in the early evening stroll through the town.

Facilities
Private garden
2 x Private pools, 9 x 3mts and approx 12 x 7mts
Satellite TV
DVD Player
Internet via mobile connection (UMTS 3.6Mbps)
Please note this is a slow connection and only suitbale for occassionally checking e-mail
Laundry room
Underfloor heating system
Chef available on request

Notes:
The owner or house keeper lives in an adjacent barn that has a separate entrance from the villa
Arrival is after 4pm
Departure is by 10 am
No animals allowed