Among the historic villas dotted around the countryside near Lucca, Olive Villa, which lies just 6km from the town of Lucca, occupies an important position due to its special historic and artistic value in northern Tuscany. It was built around the year 1500 for the Buonvisi family. The grounds of the villa, which are completely enclosed by a boundary wall, occupy 5 hectares on three different levels, consisting of various types of gardens: even today the overall structure is still characterised by special effects generating surprise and movement, just as the tastes of the time envisaged, and it is embellished with pools and fountains with plays of water, waterfalls, statues, amphitheatres of holm-oaks, grassy hummocks and rare essences. Due to its beauty, it is listed among the historic Italian gardens and, as a result, is also visited.

Alongside the villa - occupied by the owner - is the building where the old stables were, also from the 16th century and linked to an interesting legend about the king of France, Louis XIVth: Buonvisi maintained that the stables were more beautiful than a famous room in Versailles, so the Sun King sent an ambassador to check on this, who found the walls of the stables covered in gold coins showing the king's effigy, and Buonvisi won the bet. It is in this building that our guests are lodged, in a large apartment on several levels, and from the windows it looks both onto the villa and onto the garden and the swimming pool. The furnishings are in Tuscan style, welcoming and comfortable: besides the two equipped kitchens, spread out in 2 different places, there are two other smaller ones, for more intimate meals.

All of the rooms have air-conditioning, except for the ones on the lower floor, although due to their position, they are naturally cooler. Access to the private, furnished area of the garden and to the swimming pool is through the rooms on the lower floor, and from here you also come to the large furnished area with the barbecue. Besides the beautiful swimming pool (18m x 8m), there is also a tennis court at guests' disposal on synthetic grass.

In recent years, the Villa has been a host for some evenings in August to a classical music festival, which is staged with the magnificent backdrop of the garden opposite the loggia of the villa, a unique opportunity to experience a wonderful, different evening

Please note - air conditioning is in the bedrooms only

Swimming pool open 27/04 to 28/09

Accommodation - size 380sqm - sleeping 15 people in 7 bedrooms & 5 bathrooms

Ground floor - (with access from the garden of the villa) living/dining room with fireplace, 3 steps lead to the kitchen equipped with oven and dishwasher and to the door for the internal stairs, 1 double bedroom, 2 twin bedrooms, 1 bathroom with shower, 1 bathroom with bathtub, 2 small walk-through living rooms (one with single sofa-bed), 1 double bedroom with bathroom with shower, large living room with fireplace and a second kitchen with dishwasher and another access to the internal stair.

With independent entrance from the internal stairs or from the garden: 1 twin bedroom, 1 double bedroom with fireplace, 1 bathroom with shower, small living room, and a small kitchen for breakfasts.

Lower floor (with access from the internal stairs, 18 steps): living room with kitchen area leading to the external private area for dining outside (a furnished terrace above the swimming pool), 1 double bedroom, 1 bathroom with shower.

Location/distances

Shops: 2 km in Ponte a Moriano, beach: 35 km, Lucca: 6 km, Viareggio: 35 km, Florence: 80 km

CIN IT046017C2Z5N6WAE5