Bernardini
Lucca, Tuscany

• Sleeps 24
• 12 bedrooms, 12 baths
• Inclusive Staff
• Air Conditioning
• 10 minutes from Lucca

Summary

Bernardini is an enchanting and beautifully restored historic hamlet set in an aristocratic estate of cypress, magnolia and weeping willow trees, with an idyllic lake and fountain.  Hidden away in the Lucchese hills and yet only 10 minutes from the walled city of Lucca, it is a Tuscan retreat of great charm available for exclusive private rental.  With luxury guest accommodation as well as an enthusiastic and professional staff on hand, Bernardini is the perfect place for large gatherings of family and friends. The villa benefits from a close proximity to some of the most important cities of Tuscany. Besides neighboring Lucca, the villa is only 30 minutes from Pisa, 40 minutes from the coast and the beach and less then an hour from Florence.                                 

Fine Points

Exterior

In the rear of the house is a garden with a large floodlit swimming pool and a Gazebo, perfect for evening cocktails, relaxation or simply a refuge from the sun.

The Villa has is surrounded by a well-manicured garden decorated with lemon trees, geraniums and summer flowers-there is ample room for children to play.

The main courtyard is the Italian Piazzetta that has several wrought iron tables, chairs as well as umbrellas for shade, especially for breakfast service. The marvelous ornamental “Peschiera” overlooks a restored 17^th century fountain. The columned “artificial fishpond” is adorned with geraniums and summer flowers.

The terrace surrounding the fountain is perfect for outdoor dining area provides perfect position for enjoying the beauty of the fountain especially in the evenings where the cook can arrange can arrange meals to your specification, including special meals cooked in the stone wood burning oven! There is also a number of mountain bikes on-hand, perfect for biking to neighboring villages.

Interior

Ground Floor

The property breaks down into three sections that are explained in more details below. The ground floor is the true expression of Lucca’s famous architecture based on an easy elegance of a bygone area. The banquet hall opens its doors to the terrace that abuts the aforementioned fountain. The adjacent light red and pale yellow living room is a relaxing spot for guests to lounge in the evenings with a satellite TV and DVD, a big fireplace and 2 different sitting areas.

The fully equipped kitchen has modern appliances while maintaining a homelike atmosphere and is perfectly suited for great meals or cooking classes. An adjoining room also features a wine-library with a private collection of Tuscan/Italian wines, a spacious billiard room and a beautiful domed music room with fireplace and glass windows.

There is a spacious workout room with cardiovascular and weight equipment that opens to the rear terrace and the pool. There is also an office with telephone, fax, WI-FI Internet access, computer facilities, a central music system (CD, radio, cassette and microphone) and security/surveillance system, are at guests’ disposal.

There are four ground floor powder rooms with landscape frescoes add a further blend of absolute comfort,

The Service area and laundry room for staff only.

First Floor

There are 12 guestrooms (4 of which can either be king or twin bedded rooms) each with superb en-suite bath and shower facilities (5 with hydro-massage baths), individually temperature controlled (heating and air-conditioning), all linked to a central music system, and equipped with telephone, hairdryers, bathrobes and pool towels.  The property is made up of the following sections:

LA CHIESINA

The original stone chapel of the Bernardini estate now accommodates three warm, sunny and luxurious en-suite bedrooms overlooking the swimming pool to one side and a courtyard filled with terracotta pots and lemon trees to the other.  The rooms are situated above the sun lounges and TV room. 

Mercurio

A warm, and spacious, queen bedded room with two large armchairs and a writing desk.  The light cream large en-suite bathroom is one of the few that comes with a Jacuzzi bath and a separate shower.

Melograno

A citrus lime colored, small but cozy double-bedded room with doors opening out to a view across the Italian gardens. The en-suite bathroom is surprisingly large and luminous with a big window overlooking the swimming pool.

Magnolia

A Clementine yellow and raspberry red medium sized king or twin-bedded room with double doors leading out onto a small sun terrace.  There is an en-suite bathroom with shower facilities.

FERRO-A-U

The oldest part of the property, once a wild-boar hunting lodge, with walls dating back to the year 1,000 and where the original olive press used to be housed.   There are five central luxurious bedrooms in a horseshoe arrangement all with original beamed ceilings, terracotta floors and overlooking our little Italian piazza.   These guestrooms are situated above the music room, card and billiard room and wine library.

Venere

 A spacious and cool wedge-wood blue queen bedded suite encircled with windows and comprising a lounge area with sofa and chair, writing desk and a beautifully frescoed en-suite bathroom with Jacuzzi bath.

Trifoglio

A gentle gold and red cloverleaf king or twin bedded room with doors opening out and overlooking a courtyard area filled with terracotta pots and lemon trees.   There is an en-suite bathroom with a shower.

Camelia

An intimate olive green queen bedded room with a wonderful vista of the17^th century Italian garden and has a frescoed en-suite bathroom with shower.

Cipresso

A vibrant green and red queen bedded room with a frescoed en-suite bathroom and shower.

Bacco

A regal peach and gold queen bedded room with sofa, writing desk and views across the 17^th century fountains towards Lucca.  There is an en-suite bathroom with Jacuzzi bath.

PESCHIERA

Four delightful and elegant guestrooms integrated around the original 17^th century fountains, overlooking the splendid Italian gardens-located above the grand dining room and the formal drawing room. 

Diana

A large, soothing emerald green king or twin bedded room with writing desk and armchairs with a luminous en-suite bathroom with Jacuzzi bath and elegant gold trim.

Giglio

A spirited and lively strawberry red and gold queen bedded room with frescoed en-suite bathroom with shower.

Ninfea

A deep blue king or twin room with trellised frescos and an en-suite bathroom with shower.

Apollo

A midnight blue and gold queen bedded room with sofa and writing desk and a bright en-suite bathroom with Jacuzzi bath and separate shower.

[Click each image for larger view]

Additional photographs and information is available for this property. Please inquire.

Rental Rate -

• Concierge is included
• Utilities, including Air Conditioning
• Groceries shopping service is included, but food ingredients are extra.
• Housekeepers who services the bedrooms and ground floor reception rooms each day (7 days per week). 
• A gardener looks after the grounds and swimming pool maintenance.
• Security Deposit: $3,000