Hotel Albergo Villa Marta

Add another to the rolls of places in Tuscany that seem almost too amazing to be true. Here, a couple of miles outside the ancient walled city of Lucca, you’ll find the Hotel Albergo Villa Marta, a 19th-century hunting lodge lovingly restored by its husband-and-wife owners into an intimate 15-room guest house, surrounded by so many of the classic trappings of rural Tuscany that it almost seems like a put-on: rolling hills, sprawling vineyards, landscaped gardens and even a view of the San Cerbone convent.

Guest rooms are traditional in style, some with exposed beams, others with frescoed ceilings, and all furnished in a restrained antique style, not precious but just elegant. And these rooms are all new: beneath the classic veneer you’ll find modern fixtures and conveniences, including, on the ground floor, disabled-access rooms.

The views from the bedrooms take in the property’s gardens and the surrounding countryside, but a little walking reveals more, including an outdoor swimming pool and a tiny private chapel, perfect for a storybook wedding (or just for dropping hints to your spouse-to-be). A lavish breakfast is one of the Albergo Villa Marta’s particular strengths, and if you’re in a gourmet mood, wine tastings and cooking classes can be arranged. Ask for recommendations from among Lucca’s finest restaurants.

Please note: Albergo Villa Marta is open seasonally March through November. Botton D’Oro is open for dinner from 7pm Monday-Saturday (in March, April & November the restaurant will be open Thursday-Saturday).

How to get there:
Exit the Firenze-mare motorway (the A12) at LUCCA OVEST. Follow the signs for PISA onto the SS12, and from there, follow the signs for the Hotel Albergo Villa Marta. After 3/4 km, in the village of San Lorenzo a Vaccoli, turn left into the Via del ponte Guasperini. After about 500 meters you will see the Albergo Villa Marta on the left.