On 25th October at 4.00pm there will be an evening of stories at the Circolo Teatro in Monti di Villa…
Monti di Villa
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Category Archives: Stay in Bagni di Lucca
Beautiful Burlamacchi Villas
Bagni di Lucca is lucky to be home to the stunning Burlamacchi Villas. Owned by the historical Burlamacchi family, the beautiful villas are now managed by Francesca Burlamacchi. The original Villa has gradually been renovated and the property next door has been acquired and restored. The result is a magnificent property with two villas set in landscaped gardens, with a tranquil pool and fabulous views.
I visited recently with a friend and met charming Francesca Burlamacchi. What she has done with the villas is amazing. Her touch can be seen everywhere. Everything has been designed and chosen with love and great style. Nothing has been left to chance, there is a delightful surprise at every turn.
The main house was being cleaned after an event so I could not see inside. Francesca took me instead to the latest addition next door. The gardens have been connected and the two properties complement each other while each one has its own personality.
The house was known as Villa Bettini, then Casa Del Chiapa. The Burlamacchi family has renamed it Villa Shelly, in honour of Mary and Percy Shelley, who stayed in the house in the summer of 1818, shortly after the publication of Mary Shelley’s novel, Frankenstein. She is believed to have reworked the ending while sitting in a secluded area of the garden.
Mary Shelley’s garden retreat.
The rest of the garden is lovely too.
The interior of the house is gorgeous.
The view over the houses below.
One the way out I passed a crocodile who has been part of Burlamacchi Villas for a very long time.
Thank you Francesca and Paola for a delightful visit.
Burlamacchi Villas is available for holidays, weddings, corporate events, retreats. They also hold music events which the public is invited to attend.
Burlamacchi Villas…Via S Francesco, 6
Bagni di Lucca
Phone +39 3928903388
info@burlamacchivillas.it
La Ninfa Hotel opens
Ponte a Serraglio is delighted to see the reopening, after months of renovations, of the Hotel Corona with a new name, La Ninfa. The hotel has had an excellent upgrade and is ready to welcome visitors.
A small sample of the newly decorated rooms.
The terrace beside the river will be a great place to sit to enjoy the view.
Aperitivo will be fun in this lovely setting.
Local residents are welcome to enjoy the beautiful surroundings, come for aperitivo and admire the stunning view from the terrace. I wish La Nifna a bright future.
A beautiful new place to stay…Casa Tolomei
Casa Tolomei is the beautiful house where Elizabeth Barrett and Robert Browning stayed when they visited Bagni di Lucca.
It was recently bought by Laura and Andy and they have worked hard to bring the building back to life. Their renovation is remarkable.
In 2016 they finished the upper floor and had B&B rooms available to rent. This year there is a self catering option which includes a suite with 2 bedrooms and bathroom plus the stunning frescoed living room and adjacent kitchen.
For summer the whole upper floor will be available. The rental options will be 2 independent self-catering apartments or the whole floor for larger groups…8 – 12 people.
The lovely garden has an above ground pool, with plans for an inground pool this year.
Italian lessons will also be available at Casa Tolomei.
Casa Tolomei is in Via Umberto I, La Villa. For enquiries and bookings email Laura at …poggilaura@gmail.
Then and now…Hotel Corona
HOtel Corona is on the SS 12 del Brennero at the entrance to Ponte a Serraglio. Here it is in 1900.
…and 1902.
…and today…the fence has gone.
The hotel is still operating and we would love to see the restaurant reopen.
La Torre
La Torre features in the background of many of my photos of Bagni di Lucca. It looks wonderful perched on a hill overlooking Ponte a Serraglio.
La Torre is an agriturismo. It has rooms and apartments where you can stay and a lovely restaurant for everyone.
We had a great time on a warm summer evening at one of the outdoor tables. There is also a cosy place for cold winter nights.
The food was excellent and the service is very friendly.
La Torre is above Fornoli.
Email…info@latorreagriturismo.com
Telephone…0583 805297
Meet one of the delightful owners.
La Balconata…a beautiful B & B in Granaiola
Kevan and Maureen have created the most amazing farmhouse accommodation at La Balconata, their beautiful stone house in Granaiola. I saw the house before the renovation and what they have achieved is nothing short of miraculous.
From a crumbling stone building has emerged a delightfully rustic home in the best sense of the word. Furniture and cupboards have been lovingly created from old timber and found objects. Ancient tiles were retrieved, cleaned and laid by hand in great style. Curtains and soft furnishing have been created by Maureen and her beautiful sculptures are dotted throughout the rooms along with Kevan’s creative photography.
Here is the living room and reading rooms.
The bedrooms, 2 doubles and a twin.
The upstairs hallway.
The bathrooms…I love the colours and the little touches. Maureen made the bowls and soap dishes.
The kitchen. Kevan made all the cupboards and benches.
The museum wall in the kitchen.
Look at this amazing door that Kevan built.
The old floor tiles and the new ones Maureen made for the entrance.
Maureen’s sculptures…there are lots more in her own house, but that will be the subject of another post.
…and then there is the view and the garden.
…and the table set for lunch.
It would be difficult to find a more relaxing and peaceful way to spend time in our little part of Tuscany. Kevan and Maureen want their guests to feel at home and enjoy the beautiful space they have created.
Go to www.labalconata.com for more information.
Meet Roberto and Giuliana from the Corona
Roberto and his lovely assistant Giuliana.
The Corona Hotel in Ponte a Serraglio has a great position beside the river with views across the Lima River. If you are there when the weather is warm, the outdoor terrace is open for meals. They get some very good reviews on Trip Advisor, where the terrace is often mentioned, as well as the friendly service……and the food.
I have had some delicious meals at the restaurant Corona.
The hotel has been recently renovated. Look for Roberto or Giuliana in the inviting reception area.
There are some interesting frescoes dating from the 1800s in one of the waiting rooms.
The rooms are well equipped and some have lovely views over the river.
You can see the spring I wrote about in the previous post. It would be a quick trip across the walking bridge to sample some of Bagni di Lucca’s famous water.
There is a sister hotel in La Villa (1kilometre up river) called the Park Regina, where there is a pool, also available for the Corona visitors.
Giuliana’s little Fiat Bambino matches the hotel perfectly, don’t you think?
Say hello to Roberto and Juliana if you visit.
Meet Gianni and Daniela from Il Moro
Gianni and Daniela have created a beautiful agriturismo in the hills above Ponte a Serraglio. It is accessible by car via the road to Colle, or is a delightful walk through chestnut forest from the village.
The views from here are divine.
It is late spring and the olives and figs are appearing on the trees.
The roses are looking gorgeous.
As well as running the agriturismo Gianni has a hobby. He likes to build roads and houses. He has 2 projects on the go. The first one we went to is a beautiful house he has built from scratch on a level terrace above his own house.
He has done an amazing job. It is not finished yet, but it is going to be magnificent.
As well as the main house, there is a smaller building, where Gianni keeps bees and processes the honey.
The bees are still working busily on the acacia honey, Gianni showed us what will be happening soon.
I hope I am still around when the honey is ready.
The next project involved a drive on a road that Gianni is still working on to a gorgeous stone house he is renovating above La Villa. I want this house!!!!!
There is the main house and a smaller building beside it which could become a work shed or an extra bedroom for guests.
The main house will eventually have 4 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms, a huge kitchen, living room and a cellar at the back with a little cave for keeping cheese and other delights.
The smaller building sits above an old cistern.
Gianni has renovated the building beautifully, keeping the traditional style where possible.
I love the stone, tiles and the wonderful ceilings. Somebody is going to get a wonderful place to live.
Gianni doesn’t have a website, but if you want some more information you can email him at ….agriturismoilmoro3@alice.it
Pian di Fiume, an agriturismo in Bagni di Lucca
The Agriturismo Pian di Fiume takes its name from the medieval hamlet which has been lovingly restored and brought back to life. Guests now stay in the old houses that made up the tiny village.
Pian di Fiume is 2 kilometres from La Villa, the commercial centre of Bagni di Lucca. Take the road towards Abetone and look for the bridge on the left side of the road.
The agriturismo sits lazily beside the Lima River. At the river level there is a flat plain where the animals are kept. There are chickens, turkeys, horses, sheep, goats and a herd of cinta senese pigs, the semi wild pigs that feed on acorns and chestnuts. They also keep bees and the honey they produce is for sale.
Surely a face that only a mother could love.
Up a very steep dirt road is the restaurant, accommodation and pool.
The setting is lovely.
There is a tiny church from the original village.
Even though we arrived unannounced, Daniela made us a delicious lunch.
Flower shaped ravioli made by Daniela.
There is a lovely dining room.
But we chose to eat on the outside terrace with a view over the valley.
Thank you Daniela for our lovely lunch.
On the way out we spotted a little plaque with Adriano’s name on it. He felt the need to pose beside it.
In summer the river is a great place to swim.
Perhaps you will be joined by the cinta senese who like to drink there.
info@piandifiume.it
39 0583 805751
