VILLA DEL BARBARO Lucca ~ Tuscany Sleeps 10+2, pool, air-conditioning; 4500 sq. feet More Photos

Villa del Barbaro is on a 344 acre estate with the vineyards and orchards of a typical Tuscan farm, where wine and olive oil are made. The area around Lucca is becoming ever more popular with vacationers in Italy-and with reason. Nature lovers are attracted by the walking trails on the estate and in the local hills and in the Cinqueterre and the Apuan Alps.

Also within easy driving distance are Pisa, Florence, Siena, Volterra and many other attractive Tuscan hilltowns. Lucca wins fans with its amiable small town atmosphere, distinctive galleries and restaurants, and splendid gardens and villas-many of which are open for public tours. Ancient ramparts surround the town, making a pleasant walkway with wonderful views. Villa del Barbaro is located about 4 km from Lucca. Tennis facilities and a small golf course, shops, restaurant and coffee are about 1 km from the villa. Coffee bar and ice-cream parlour is across the street.

Villa del Barbaro is a splendid newly converted house dating from the 1700's. Three-stories, floorplan for ground floor, second floor, and third floor, provide spacious and comfortable living space for a sizeable group, with two living rooms, a dining room, and two kitchens. The rooms have traditional terracotta floors and exposed-beam ceilings, and are elegantly furnished with family antiques (although mattresses are new).

Guests are accommodated in five large bedrooms-three of which have en-suite bathrooms. Of the villa's five bathrooms, two have Jacuzzi baths, two have standard bathtubs and one has a shower (this one in on the ground floor). There are a king-bedded room, 2 queen-bedded rooms, a twin room and another room with 2 full-sized beds that can accommodate 2 adults or 4 children.

The villa is centrally heated and air-conditioned throughout and modern amenities are provided, including two dishwashers, a washing machine, satellite TV and stereo. A solarium, sunny patio, pretty garden and large private pool make the hours spent out of doors as pleasant as those spent inside. Four mountain bikes are at guests' disposal, and the owners generously offer use of their own "cabina" for one or more days at a nearby private beach. There are warm showers, changing rooms with lockers, and a nice cafeteria. Villa del Barbaro's owners, who live next door in a separate villa, will welcome you. Here is a splendid villa and an opportunity to meet an Italian family that speaks English.

On the estate is Villa Cardinale and two other lovely (air-conditioned) apartments, Vera 1 & 2, each with 2 bathrooms and its own kitchen. Vera 1 sleeps 4 in 2 bedrooms, Vera 2 sleeps 8 in four bedrooms). A (salt-water) pool is shared with the owners' family. If all four accommodations are rented, 29 + 5 people can be accommodated in comfort with three pools, one fresh, one salt.

Lovely Apartments on this property: Vera 1 and Vera 2