About this property
This grand Italian villa with the most beautiful landscaped gardens offers you the quintessential Tuscan experience near Lucca, perfectly located within easy reach of Pisa, Florence and even the Cinque Terre coast.
In a small village just a short drive from Lucca’s enchanting medieval towers, Villa Annabelle is an exquisitely restored 18th century residence that welcomes 12 guests, set in two hectares of parkland. In very recent years it has been completely renovated by its new owners under the careful watch of some of Italy’s finest architects - the result is truly incredible.
Across the main villa guests can luxuriate in the elegant interiors of the lounges, dining room and kitchen whilst six gorgeous bedrooms each feature their own marbled bathroom with robes, slippers and high-end toiletries. Indeed, you should expect the very best across this luxurious Tuscan abode with original Tessieri tiles and Murano chandeliers alongside rustic terracotta floors and a blend of antique and modern Italian furnishings.
For an additional six guests, a separate guesthouse within the estate can be added to your booking, subject to a supplement; a former farmhouse which is simpler in style to the decadent villa yet still exudes traditional Tuscan charm across its living room, kitchen and three en suite bedrooms.
Back to the main villa, discover the indoor swimming pool and wellness area with its spa and hammam – various treatments and massages can be arranged. Indeed, the villa owners take pride in the services they can offer such as in-house wine-tasting, vineyard tours and other personalised excursions. An Italian buffet breakfast is provided, as is daily housekeeping, whilst a chef can be booked to prepare delicious Tuscan feasts using the very best local ingredients, including fresh produce from Villa Annabelle’s kitchen garden.
Make sure you try the limoncello, candied fruit and jams made from the lemons and kiwi fruit grown across the 2-hectare parkland, not to mention extra virgin olive oil and even home-made soap created from the villa’s many olive trees. Every corner of the parkland offers a different experience from enjoying breakfast on the vast terrace and strolling by the fountains and cypress trees to making the most of the outdoor summer swimming pool or sitting by the lake. There is even a wedding garden where you can say your vowels beneath the white marble gazebo, such a delightful spot for a picture-perfect wedding ceremony in Tuscany.
Villa Annabelle is a wonderful base for exploring this captivating region whether cycling around Lucca’s medieval walls and admiring the exquisite beauty of its Renaissance palaces and pretty squares, or spending the day visiting the cities of Pisa and Florence. Idyllic hilltop villages and historic towns await including Collodi, Vinci, San Miniato and Montecatini Terme or drive just half an hour to soak up the ambience of Tuscany’s coast at Viareggio and Forte dei Marmi.
The most romantic of souls should venture a little further to the Golfo dei Poeti following the footsteps of Shelley and Byron or head to the extraordinary landscapes of the Cinque Terre, now classified as a UNESCO World Heritage site, before returning to the magnificence of your historic Tuscan home.
Villa Annabelle is set in a small Tuscan village just outside the beautiful town of Lucca. With views of the surrounding hills, the village features a couple of restaurants as well as a beautiful and historic church.
Here you are just 8km from the heart of historic Lucca, one of Tuscany’s true gems with its medieval walls, enchanting lanes, pretty squares, Renaissance architecture and impressive towers. Hiring bikes and cycling the city walls is a must – stop off for a picnic beneath the shady trees or let kids find space to play as you take in the gorgeous views.
Of course, the more famous tourist destinations of Pisa (17km) and Florence (84km) are also easily reached by car or train and the villa’s concierge can arrange private tailor-made itineraries. Other excursions that can be organised include vineyard visits, wine and culinary tours, truffle hunting, golf, tennis and horse-riding as well as e-bike and Vespa or Fiat 500 rental.
Away from the main tourist sites, spend time exploring the charming Tuscan village of Collodi (23km), home to the Pinocchio Park for youngsters, or visit the birthplace of Leonardo da Vinci near Florence in Vinci (48km). The spa town of Montecatini Terme (35km) is lovely day out – take the old funicular up to the old village above the town for spectacular views.
Another great advantage of this part of northern Tuscany is that you are close to the coast with the vibrant summer seaside resorts of Viareggio and Forte dei Marmi around half an hour away, great for watersport enthusiasts as well as beach lovers.
Even further north is the wonderful Ligurian coastline from the romantic villages and little bays dotted along the Golfo dei Poeti to the magnificent scenery of the Cinque Terre National Park, nowadays classified as a unesco World heritage site.
Accommodation
1.) 12-person price: Main Villa only.
2.) 18-person price: Main Villa and Guest House. (Please note the guest house is simpler in style compared to the villa, so may be best suited for older teens or accompanying staff)
Main Villa Interiors
Main Floor (via steps)
- Living room
- Formal dining room for 12 guests
- Library
- Kitchen, fully-equipped including dishwasher, oven, hob, microwave, fridge, freezer, coffee machine, toaster, kettle, blender
First Floor
- Living room
- Bedroom (32m2) with king-size double bed (can be converted to twin beds on request) and en suite bathroom with bath/shower
- Bedroom (25m2) with queen-size double bed (can be converted to twin beds on request) and en suite bathroom with shower
- Bedroom (38m2) with king-size double bed (can be converted to twin beds on request) and en suite bathroom with bath and shower
Top Floor (sloping wood-beamed ceilings)
- Living room
- Bedroom (32m2) with king-size double bed (can be converted to twin beds on request) and en suite bathroom with shower
- Bedroom (28m2) with queen-size double bed (can be converted to twin beds on request) and en suite bathroom with shower
- Bedroom (25m2) with queen-size double bed (can be converted to twin beds on request) and en suite bathroom with shower
Basement
- Indoor swimming pool (5x5m, depth: 1.4m) with hydromassage jets, open all year round and heated October to May (outside this time, indoor pool heating is subject to a supplement)
- Sauna and hammam (2 hours use per day)
- Relaxation lounge
- Spa treatment room
- Well-stocked private wine cellar
Guest House (available on request)
- 3 x Bedrooms with double beds and ensuite bathrooms with showers
- Living room and kitchenette
Outside Grounds (20,000m2)
- Swimming pool (18.5m x 8m, depth: 1.4m). Open approximately May to October
- Poolside sun loungers (x12)
- Main terrace
- Various other al-fresco dining and lounge areas
- Barbecue
- Art garden
- Wedding garden with white marble gazebo
- Organic kitchen garden (used by on-site chef)
- Olive trees
- Lemon trees
- Kiwi fruit pergola (50m long)
- Fountain and other water features
- Swing and slide
- Bikes (4)
- Tennis court
- Helipad
- Lake
- Parking
Facilities
- Wi-Fi
- Air-conditioning (throughout the main villa)
- Heating
- Fireplace
- Lift (all floors of main villa)
- Satellite and Smart TV
- Central music system
- Robes and slippers
- Children’s books and toys
- Mosquito nets
- Ironing facilities