Villa rental in Lucca, Tuscany - Italy - Il Guappero

Leaving Lucca by the south road you come across a hilly area covered in green forests and olive groves - a small collection of hills which historically marked the border area between Lucca and Pisa, and was even mentioned by the great Italian poet, Dante in the Divine Comedy in the 33rd stanza from Hell as "the hill which covers Lucca from the view of the Pisans", and is dotted with ancient villages, Romanesque churches, small castles and historic palaces. Just 10 km from Lucca, at the top of one of these hills, you will find Il Guappero. This attractive old building, built in the 1700s as a farmhouse, has belonged for generations to the family of the current owners, who at the beginning of the 80s undertook a radical renovation of the house, transforming it into a wonderful, comfortable home. It is surrounded by a huge stretch of woods: and from its windows and from the garden your eyes can rest quietly on the subtle changes of colour between the green pine trees, the chestnut trees, the acacias and the olive trees which make up the woods: no other building or trace of human activity are visible. And the only sounds that could possibly disturb your repose will be those of the "inhabitants" of these woods, with a fauna rich in foxes, wild boar, porcupines, badgers, weasels and squirrels. The interiors have been furnished with taste, with antique pieces from the Tuscan tradition; on the ground floor the ceilings have old beams, the floor is covered with antique terracotta bricks, and the outside walls are one meter thick at the base which keeps the interior cool. Outside there is an original wood-burning oven from the 1700s, where you can cook bread and pizzas and there are many areas for enjoying the marvelous relaxed atmosphere: the balcony opposite the veranda with table and sunshade - an ideal spot for breakfast - and the splendid swimming-pool (12.2 x 6 meters), with a large chestnut tree on one side, which offers a cool, shady area furnished with a table and chairs and a dressing-room. A large pergola covered with a vine is on the other side towards the house, with 3 tables for 6 people each and next to it there are a series of services with an outdoor shower and WC, a large barbecue and a kitchen equipped with oven, hobs and fridge, complete with all the cutlery for preparing lunches and dinners around the pool. From the swimming-pool a short path in the woods leads to a little cascade down a brook, among the ferns and chestnut trees, a cool oasis even on the hottest days. From the total calm that Il Guappero offers you can still comfortably reach both the Tuscan art cities and the sea along the Versilian coast.