VILLA MICHAELA
Tuscany, Italy
Large private villa/small hotel nestled in the hills 6km from Lucca very large, listed early nineteenth century frescoed villa designed by the famous Lucchese architect Lorenzo Nottolini who was also responsible for the celebrated aquaduct which used to bring the water down from the hills above the city.
Sleeps 24
The owners and managers of Villa Michaela hope to share with you the beauty and history of Tuscany and especially the Lucchesia. Walk in the time aged village of Vorno down quaint little paths overlooking verdant vegetable gardens. Glimpse toward gracious faded villas looking down on the city of Lucca and its famous towers. Dine al fresco by the pool under the mulberry trees or under a canopy of wisteria overlooking the olive groves, on indoors in the ornate frescoed dining room where the table seats 36. Exhaust yourself on the floodlit tennis court or mountain biking up the hill through the olive groves Dip into the Villa Michaela 'Recommended Italian Reading List' and feel the Tuscany of Byron, Shelley, Heine and Russkin. Cool off in our vast limpid pool or treat yourself to a trip back into the civilization of the Renaissance.
GUIDED TOURS (Professional English speaking guide)
Lucca
Florence
Pisa
Siena
San Gimignano
Carrara
Cinque Terra
Chianti
ECO ADVENTURE Rent of professional MOUNTAIN BIKES either with or without guide - these can be brought to the villa by Alessandro our ECO specialist
HORSE RIDING Our ECO specialist will bring your steed to the villa for a mountain ride or meet him down at the coast for a sea on the sand through the pine forest followed by a picnic lunch. Outings in 4 x 4 car to remote places for hiking and picnics including guide.
TENNIS COACHING With English speaking coach.
CONCERTS In House OPERA NIGHT (Puccini, Verdi, Boccelli and Neapolitan songs). It is also possible to have other musical groups
Pop music for dancing:
Gospel
Classic rock
Soul
Blues
Surprise Singing Chef
IN HOUSE BEAUTY TREATMENTS Facials, manicure and pedicure, massage.
GOLF At Montecatini Terme or Forte dei Marmi.
FACTORY OUTLETS Trips to Gucci , Prada etc.
SEE THE BOTTICELLIS at the UFFIZI but make sure you ask the staff to order you pre booked tickets so you don't have to stand in line.
WALK OR BICYCLE The ramparts of Lucca - one of the world's 50 most famous walks - these were started in 1100 and finished in 1650 and are 5 kms round this elliptical city.
PICNICS In the olive grove or further afield - catch a TUSCAN SUNSET.
MUSHROOM AND TRUFFLE HUNTING At the right time of year.
CHEESE TASTING IN THE GARFAGNANA Visit to small ORGANIC cheese farms.
RESTAURANTS The villa has an extensive list and reviews of all kinds of eateries BEACHES at Tirrenia, Forte dei Marmi, Viareggio and Torre del lago.
BOAT TRIPS A perfect way to visit the Cinque Terre and Porto Venere and the Blue Grotto.
Visit VINCI and dream of LEONARDO AND buy fabulous CERAMICS.
SPAS AND THERMAL TREATMENTS At Montecatini Terme and Bagni di Lucca - everything from massage to mudbaths! The Spas themselves, largely built between 1890 and 1910, are monuments, if not 'altars' to water worship! Beautifully ornate they are well worth a visit and in the afternoons have at least a pianist if not a full orchestra playing.
CARS! The celebrated FERRARI museum at Maranello is worth a visit for aficionados.
FLOWER LOVERS Visit PESCIA devoted to flowers - the FLOWER MARKET is an impressive glass dome which is considered one of the most important modern buildings in Italy.
WINE TASTING AND LECTURE At a working wine farm or 'fattoria'. TASTE some VIRGIN OLIVE OIL - Lucca is world famous for it.
DRIVE NORTH Park in the Tereglio village carpark and look down the FEGANA VALLEY where HANNIBAL tramped 2,200 years ago.
HISTORICAL CORTEGE For a different aperitif in the garden of Villa Michaela. Procession of musicians in old Lucchese mediaeval costume with drums and tambourines. See where PINOCCHIO really came from in case you thought it was California!. Go to COLLODI and see the gardens of Villa Garzoni where the author of Pinnochio was a boot boy! The precipitous gardens took 100 years to build and are most impressive.
MARKETS Visit the most famous and characteristic markets - Pistoia (Wednesday) and Lucca (Wednesday) and Forte dei Marmi (Wednesday).
VISIT PUCCINI'S BIRTHHOUSE Complete with his grand piano in the centre of Lucca.
LUCCA ANTIQUE MARKET Visit to the LUCCA ANTIQUE MARKET - the third weekend of every month.
MASTER ARTISANS Guided tour of the MASTER ARTISANS of Lucca (gilders, restorers, etc).
LIBERTY ARCHITECTURE See the LIBERTY ARCHITECTURE in Lucca, Forte and Livorno.
LANDSCAPE Many great men of letters, and not only Italians, have spent years writing about the Tuscan landscape and its inimitable colours and light - Michelangelo said 'this is Tuscany's greatest work of art'
FISHING In lakes or the River Serchio or sea fishing at Viareggio. See the worlds best yachts being built in Viareggio.
SINGING Can you sing? Are you shy? If the answers are yes and no or even if you think the answers are yes and no, try the kareoke at the bar in Vorno every Friday and Saturday night in the summer.
CLIMB The newly restored LEANiNG TOWER OF PISA - must book in advance.
CLASSICAL VILLAS AND GARDENS Take in some classical VILLAS AND GARDENS in the COLLI LUCCHESI.
LUCCHESE HILLS See where the rich silk merchants of Lucca set up house VILLA OLIVA, VILLA GRABAU, VILLA REALE, VILLA MANSI , VILLA TORRIGIANI.
NAPOLEON BONAPARTE fans visit ELBA for the day - nearby is perhaps the best restaurant in Italy 'IL GAMBERO ROSSO' in San Vincenzo.
SKI-ING in Abetone ( winter only).
HIKING in national parks, the Garfagnana, the Omdo dei Botri, Monte Rondinaio, San Pellegrino and Pania di Corfino are just a few of the wonderful places to hike - many of them have little huts 'rifiugi' for stopping or overnight stays.
HORSE RACING AND TROTTING - at Pisa and Montecatini.
Tuscany, Italy
Large private villa/small hotel nestled in the hills 6km from Lucca very large, listed early nineteenth century frescoed villa designed by the famous Lucchese architect Lorenzo Nottolini who was also responsible for the celebrated aquaduct which used to bring the water down from the hills above the city.
Sleeps 24
Events & Activities
The owners and managers of Villa Michaela hope to share with you the beauty and history of Tuscany and especially the Lucchesia. Walk in the time aged village of Vorno down quaint little paths overlooking verdant vegetable gardens. Glimpse toward gracious faded villas looking down on the city of Lucca and its famous towers. Dine al fresco by the pool under the mulberry trees or under a canopy of wisteria overlooking the olive groves, on indoors in the ornate frescoed dining room where the table seats 36. Exhaust yourself on the floodlit tennis court or mountain biking up the hill through the olive groves Dip into the Villa Michaela 'Recommended Italian Reading List' and feel the Tuscany of Byron, Shelley, Heine and Russkin. Cool off in our vast limpid pool or treat yourself to a trip back into the civilization of the Renaissance.
GUIDED TOURS (Professional English speaking guide)
Lucca
Florence
Pisa
Siena
San Gimignano
Carrara
Cinque Terra
Chianti
ECO ADVENTURE Rent of professional MOUNTAIN BIKES either with or without guide - these can be brought to the villa by Alessandro our ECO specialist
HORSE RIDING Our ECO specialist will bring your steed to the villa for a mountain ride or meet him down at the coast for a sea on the sand through the pine forest followed by a picnic lunch. Outings in 4 x 4 car to remote places for hiking and picnics including guide.
TENNIS COACHING With English speaking coach.
CONCERTS In House OPERA NIGHT (Puccini, Verdi, Boccelli and Neapolitan songs). It is also possible to have other musical groups
Pop music for dancing:
Gospel
Classic rock
Soul
Blues
Surprise Singing Chef
IN HOUSE BEAUTY TREATMENTS Facials, manicure and pedicure, massage.
GOLF At Montecatini Terme or Forte dei Marmi.
FACTORY OUTLETS Trips to Gucci , Prada etc.
SEE THE BOTTICELLIS at the UFFIZI but make sure you ask the staff to order you pre booked tickets so you don't have to stand in line.
WALK OR BICYCLE The ramparts of Lucca - one of the world's 50 most famous walks - these were started in 1100 and finished in 1650 and are 5 kms round this elliptical city.
PICNICS In the olive grove or further afield - catch a TUSCAN SUNSET.
MUSHROOM AND TRUFFLE HUNTING At the right time of year.
CHEESE TASTING IN THE GARFAGNANA Visit to small ORGANIC cheese farms.
RESTAURANTS The villa has an extensive list and reviews of all kinds of eateries BEACHES at Tirrenia, Forte dei Marmi, Viareggio and Torre del lago.
BOAT TRIPS A perfect way to visit the Cinque Terre and Porto Venere and the Blue Grotto.
Visit VINCI and dream of LEONARDO AND buy fabulous CERAMICS.
SPAS AND THERMAL TREATMENTS At Montecatini Terme and Bagni di Lucca - everything from massage to mudbaths! The Spas themselves, largely built between 1890 and 1910, are monuments, if not 'altars' to water worship! Beautifully ornate they are well worth a visit and in the afternoons have at least a pianist if not a full orchestra playing.
CARS! The celebrated FERRARI museum at Maranello is worth a visit for aficionados.
FLOWER LOVERS Visit PESCIA devoted to flowers - the FLOWER MARKET is an impressive glass dome which is considered one of the most important modern buildings in Italy.
WINE TASTING AND LECTURE At a working wine farm or 'fattoria'. TASTE some VIRGIN OLIVE OIL - Lucca is world famous for it.
DRIVE NORTH Park in the Tereglio village carpark and look down the FEGANA VALLEY where HANNIBAL tramped 2,200 years ago.
HISTORICAL CORTEGE For a different aperitif in the garden of Villa Michaela. Procession of musicians in old Lucchese mediaeval costume with drums and tambourines. See where PINOCCHIO really came from in case you thought it was California!. Go to COLLODI and see the gardens of Villa Garzoni where the author of Pinnochio was a boot boy! The precipitous gardens took 100 years to build and are most impressive.
MARKETS Visit the most famous and characteristic markets - Pistoia (Wednesday) and Lucca (Wednesday) and Forte dei Marmi (Wednesday).
VISIT PUCCINI'S BIRTHHOUSE Complete with his grand piano in the centre of Lucca.
LUCCA ANTIQUE MARKET Visit to the LUCCA ANTIQUE MARKET - the third weekend of every month.
MASTER ARTISANS Guided tour of the MASTER ARTISANS of Lucca (gilders, restorers, etc).
LIBERTY ARCHITECTURE See the LIBERTY ARCHITECTURE in Lucca, Forte and Livorno.
LANDSCAPE Many great men of letters, and not only Italians, have spent years writing about the Tuscan landscape and its inimitable colours and light - Michelangelo said 'this is Tuscany's greatest work of art'
FISHING In lakes or the River Serchio or sea fishing at Viareggio. See the worlds best yachts being built in Viareggio.
SINGING Can you sing? Are you shy? If the answers are yes and no or even if you think the answers are yes and no, try the kareoke at the bar in Vorno every Friday and Saturday night in the summer.
CLIMB The newly restored LEANiNG TOWER OF PISA - must book in advance.
CLASSICAL VILLAS AND GARDENS Take in some classical VILLAS AND GARDENS in the COLLI LUCCHESI.
LUCCHESE HILLS See where the rich silk merchants of Lucca set up house VILLA OLIVA, VILLA GRABAU, VILLA REALE, VILLA MANSI , VILLA TORRIGIANI.
NAPOLEON BONAPARTE fans visit ELBA for the day - nearby is perhaps the best restaurant in Italy 'IL GAMBERO ROSSO' in San Vincenzo.
SKI-ING in Abetone ( winter only).
HIKING in national parks, the Garfagnana, the Omdo dei Botri, Monte Rondinaio, San Pellegrino and Pania di Corfino are just a few of the wonderful places to hike - many of them have little huts 'rifiugi' for stopping or overnight stays.
HORSE RACING AND TROTTING - at Pisa and Montecatini.