This is our second time staying at Bell'Estate and it won't be our last. This is a beautifully maintained and wonderfully curated home. We are constantly impressed with all the little details (fully stocked kitchen, towels, sheets, books and maps on the area, etc) that make our stay as enjoyable as possible. The pool was incredible with gorgeous views of the countryside. Each morning we would enjoy a cup of coffee on the new patio and end the day with a glass of wine there too. We made great use of the well-stocked kitchen preparing meals that included tomatoes and herbs from the gardens. And the beds!!! The luxurious Italian bed linens were just to die for. We really did have a wonderful time and truly can’t thank Alessandra enough! She goes above and beyond to make it a great vacation for her guests!

There are truly no words to describe how special the two weeks were that we stayed at Bell’ Estate. We were celebrating a milestone birthday with 16 family members and all of us made memories for a lifetime. From my first communication with Alessandra, the process of booking the home, preparing for our trip and enjoying this beautiful space was a dream. The home itself has amazing history, charm and character, and offered our group all the space we needed to enjoy each other’s company without being underfoot. The pool and landscaping are unsurpassed, there are easy hikes from the home to explore the countryside and the proximity to Lucca enabled us to enjoy that beautiful city everyday. But we were always eager to get back to the lively Bell’ Estate. I left a little piece of my heart there!

This is a spectacular place even out of season. I highly recommend it!

We spent 5 days in this beautiful villa located in the countryside outside of Lucca. We where a party of 10 adults and six kids: the villa is large and housed us comfortably. The mood is very special. Classic, elegant and authentic. The house is impeccably kept, and is clearly looked after with great care. We all had the feeling we where getting the real Tuscan experience. We naturally all gravitated twards the kitchen, which even if slightly smaller than most of the rooms in the house, is homey and well equipped. Having a chef in our midst contributed of course. Our other favorite spot is the top floor with its gigantic fireplace, and I mean the thing is huge. Sipping wine late at night by the fire after a day of walking the crowds of Lucca Comics... priceless. We thoroughly enjoyed this house and plan on coming back. Highly recommended!!

Bell'Estate, an old country mansion, a rambling tuscan garden, a magic autumn atmosphere, a perfect setting for a reunion of old friends. Lucca a charming, smart city with plenty of shopping opportunities and gourmet restaurants, in the vicinity. We will repeat in the next future!

Bell 'Estate is a lovely, very large, traditional Italian home.....as other reviewers have noted, even more beautiful in the flesh than in the pictures. If you're after a soulless, modern villa with every modern convenience, then maybe this isn't the right place for you. But if you want to experience living in a large house from La Belle Époque, then this is something very special. The house is full of the books and pictures that make it a 'lived in' family home. And there is sufficient space for a large group all to lose themselves in their own haven. Inevitably in August a particular highlight was the private swimming pool, an extraordinary 25 metres and delightfully warm, in a quiet spot a little way away from the house. The house is about a 15 min drive from the historic town of Lucca. The owner, Alessandra, was extremely attentive in ensuring that everything was ready for us and everything was fine. Her sister, Sonia - an excellent cook - was able to prepare a couple of dinners for us, as well. I would thoroughly recommend this house.....and we certainly hope to return ourselves one day.

My wife and three other couples recently stayed at the fabulous estate outside of Lucca, in the Tuscan countryside. We are speechless. From an Olympic-sized swimming pool (which came in handy because of the high 90 degree heat), to sumptuous tree-lined grounds, a private entrance, and a 5 bedroom estate out of the 18th century......bellisimo!! We met Sonja, sister to the owner of the property, and she was wonderful, very helpful. Not only did she give us guidance on the neighboring area, she also cooked us a true Tuscan dinner on one night of our 7 night stay. It was spectacular, but then again, everything about this home was spectacular. There were really no negatives I can think of other than showers being a bit on the smaller size, but that pales in comparison to the beauty of this estate. Bedrooms are spacious, the kitchen is functional and outstanding, the WIFI worked well, and there are other rooms aplenty. We absolutely plan on staying here again!!

Beautiful place and location . Owner very accurate in description and very helpful anytime I had a question . Would recommend to anyone .

Bell'Estate is an astonishingly beautiful place and when the sun shines one fully experiences the splendor of the property. The garden areas and pool are extraordinary and it feels as though a cinematographer might appear at any moment! The house is enormous and can comfortably accommodate large groups with no sense of crowding. The kitchen is well equipped and there are plenty of good dishes, glasses and cutlery. It is a home that is lived in and loved, and nothing in it is of low quality. Bedrooms are very spacious, featuring stunning vistas; the five rooms we used had comfortably firm beds and all windows have screens. It must be understood, though, that this is an old house and can be chilly and dark inside, which is an advantage in hot weather but not necessarily in cold or dank weather. There are "new house" people and "old house" people in the world and those who want a modern place might not be entirely comfortable. Those who love the individuality, history and charm of a quintessentially Italian home that evokes a bygone era, however, will think they have died and gone to heaven.

Unsere Familie hatte eine wunderbare Woche in Bell’Estate – eine klassisch toskanische Villa im besten Sinne mit Stil, Charme und schönen Bildern eingerichtet. Man spürt sofort, dass dies kein Mietobjekt für die Feriengäste ist, sondern vielmehr ein Haus, das auch von der Eigentümerin Alessandra und deren Familie bereits in zweiter Generation als italienischer Wohnsitz genutzt wird. Entsprechend liebevoll ist die Einrichtung des sehr großzügig geschnittenen Hauses. Highlight ist jedoch die Kombination aus Haus und Garten mit dem riesigen 25 m Pool mit Fernblick – wunderbar gefasst in grünem Serpentinstein und kleine Glasmosaikfliesen. Auch für die Kinder ist genügend Platz für Ballspiele und Tischtennis direkt am Haus. Unser Lieblingsraum – auch zum ungestörten Arbeiten im Urlaub - war die gut bestückte Bibliothek. Auch in der kühleren Jahreszeit ist die Villa mit den drei offenen Kaminen sicherlich ein schönes Ziel. Besonders schön sind die keramischen Böden im Haus. Bell’Estate ist ideal gelegen um Ausflüge an die Küste, ins Landesinnere nach Florenz oder ins nahegelegene Pisa zu machen. Am schönsten für uns jedoch Lucca selbst – die komplett befestigte Stadt mit ihrer Vielzahl von Plätzen ist sehr einladend und überraschend vielseitig. Wir waren nun bereits das dritte Mal hier und kommen bestimmt wieder! Danke, Alessandra für die guten Hinweise und Tipps und Kompliment an Gärtner und Housekeeping die ganz unaufdringliche Betreuung vor Ort.

It's hard to put in words just how beautiful this house and its gardens were. It had such charm and warmth and history and we treasure our time spent there. We were there mid-April so the pool wasn't open yet, but it didn't matter. The Wisteria arch was in full bloom and it was gorgeous. There were 12 of us, ranging in age from 20 months to 71yrs. We had plenty of space for all to be together, but it was easy enough to find your own special cuby. The weather was gorgeous during the day and at night we were able to light a fire in the fireplace. It was convenient enough to go into Lucca (one of our favorite cities) and convenient for day trip to Cinque Terre, to Colle Verde organic vineyard and olive orchard, or other excursions. But we loved coming home to "Bell". Alessandra was so considerate and helpful, made sure we received information we would need. We had Sonia prepare dinner for us the first day we arrived and our last night there. Being at Bell Estate with my family will always remain one of my most treasured memories. It is more than just a beautiful house. The description by the person who wrote "Enchanting" review was spot on. I have only one regret - we weren't there long enough. I can't wait to return.

Incredible private pool- 25 meters for real lap swimming. Really nice housekeeper. 5 large bedrooms and 4 bathrooms in a real villa makes this a dream come true. Up a small road just outside of Lucca so you have privacy plus a he amenities of Lucca. Really a marvellous spot

This enchanting house is right out of a D.H. Lawrence novel. It's tucked on a tiny quiet road; a mossy stone marker inscribed 1892 greets you as you approach along the gravel drive. The garden hosts majestic chestnut and cypress trees, with an arched tunnel of wisteria. Inhale the fragrance of lemon and olive trees or wander down the winding path lined with bamboo that leads to an very large private swimming pool nestled in a little valley. Swim and sunbathe in total privacy while across the valley you can glimpse a gorgeous old Tuscan chapel. The grounds of this property are delightful (mosquitos were a non-issue on my visit) and I recommend any guest take advantage of them. Inside the house, admire the Carrara marble sink and matching kitchen table, and the elegant tile. Enjoy the incredible craftsmanship of the generous original windows. During our visit, I slept with them open each night to enjoy the August breezes and the songs of crickets. So peaceful! Don’t expect electronically operated shutters or a TV in every room; this is not a high-tech house. But it has all the important comforts and amenities, such as a strong and reliable WiFi, and a wonderfully equipped kitchen for cooking and gathering with friends. If you're looking for the tranquility of the countryside, a spacious romantic garden in which to relax, socialize, and have your meals, and the genuine glamour of days gone by, don't miss this beautiful home.

This lovely, elegant country house was a perfect base for our extended family's trip to Lucca and Northern Tuscany. We loved the way its historic details (e.g., carrara marble sink with brass fixtures in the kitchen, wooden shutters on windows, etc.) have been preserved carefully in renovations. Ten of us fit here comfortably in five bedrooms on the second floor. The 90' long pool offers total privacy. A well appointed kitchen and herb garden allowed us to prepare a wonderful meal that we ate outdoors on a long table under a large Linden tree. Lucca is a 10 minute drive away and worth several days of sightseeing. Florence is an hour away by car or train. Pisa and the beach resort Viareggio are closer. The touristy Tuscan hill towns south of Florence were too far out of reach, so we spent a day north of Lucca, heading toward the Alps, and discovered the beautiful, unspoiled tiny hill town of Castiglione di Garfagnana, about a 15 minute drive north of Castelnuovo, in terrain that is more verdant and lush rather than arid and brown. This villa is the perfect place for lovers of old houses in romantic, natural surroundings.

Depending on your expectations, this place is going to either wow you or leave you slightly disappointed. The description of luxury is a subjective one and changes with time. Having stayed at newer properties around the world, I think its questionable whether the home is still in the luxury category as bathrooms are small, furniture needs updating, a/c not everywhere, kitchen on the smallish side, wifi not throughout property etc, etc. The only reasons there is a debate at all are the undoubted luxury of the pool and the grounds. I would also add that all these facts were known to us before we booked, but having read past reviews the shortfalls seemed somehow very understated. As a family home it is first class. I can understand the pride of the owners and am slightly envious of them. Family homes tend to have imperfections which add to the charm and in this case, rustic feel. Anyone looking for this kind of experience is going to be very pleased. The owners themselves were very responsive and Alessandra was a joy to communicate with. She even called from New York to make sure we were settled in properly. Sonia was less available than we had anticipated, though she was able to orientate us very thoroughly. She also organised the cleaning etc very well. Though totally out of the owners control, the mosquitos were a problem to us. It made it very difficult to sit outside especially in the evenings even though we used repellents and other such measures. That was probably the biggest let down, and may have changed the whole mood of the party. I dont know what the owners could do, but they should give this some thought as other reviewers have mentioned the problem. Perhaps consider citric plants, insecticides, nets, check drains or other areas that might attract mosquitos, etc. In summary, this is a flawed luxury property making it a fine family home.

The other reviewers have not exaggerated about this exquisite house and the lovely countryside surrounding it. The photos do not do it justice. It is larger and much more grand than it appears. It is stunningly beautiful inside and out. The views are incredible, and the peace and quiet were only interrupted by the sounds of the children playing in the pool. As a group we totaled 4 adults and six children ranging in age from 6 to 14. The house was incredibly spacious. Had we wanted alone time, we could all ten of us have found it simultaneously. As it was, we spent most of our time in the well equipped and very pleasant kitchen, and in the pool. The kitchen looks small in the photos, and it is compared to the other rooms, but it's actually fairly big. My daughter baked a me a birthday cake from scratch in it! The pool is spectacularly large, perfect for the kids to play and for the adults to swim laps - sometimes at the same time! The house has air-conditioning in two of the 5 bedrooms, and screens on many of the windows - luxuries you don't find in many houses in Italy. All of the other bedrooms have fans. The three full bathrooms upstairs were completely adequate for all of us. The smallest bathroom is actually ensuite with one of the air-conditioned bedrooms. I liked the privacy that entailed and also the fact that I wasn’t taking over a larger bathroom from the rest of our party. The bedrooms are enormous, and the beds are very comfortable. The house was cleaned every other day which was wonderful considering how large it is, and that there were 10 of us. The washing machine worked perfectly and made it possible for us to travel lightly. There is also a ping pong table outside! The owner's very thorough guide about the house and the area was an invaluable resource. We took advantage of many of her recommendations. This was our first trip to Tuscany, and the house and surrounding area couldn’t have been more perfect for our two families. I was not at all ready to leave after one week, and I would love to come back and see it in every season. If you’re a large group, I highly recommend staying here. It may seem a bit expensive, but split in half by two families (who in a hotel would need at least two rooms each) it’s really quite reasonable, especially for what you get!

Wow is the only way to describe this property and experience. We have stayed in the Lucca area 3 times now, and in 4 different villas, and we have stayed in villas in a lot of other European locations, and this one was spectacular. Located within a short drive or bike ride to the walled city, and still with all of the experiences you would hope for in a Tuscan property. The villa is huge and the bedrooms and common areas are as well. The pictures do not do it justice from a size perspective. We were 9 people in the Villa for a week, and there were 3 rooms that we did not use! The Villa is decorated as a personal home and therefore does not have the tourist, vacation rental feel, but rather that of a traditional Tuscan home. The Property itself is huge! IIt was great for playing family Bocce, outdoor table tennis and football. Eating meals outside was great. We bought groceries on arriving, but quickly discovered that we were encouraged to use vegetables from the gardens on the property, and the tomatoes, squash, peppers etc were incredibly delicious. Five people in our group took Sonia up on the cooking lesson, and the experience was extremely educational and fun and the meal turned out great. We would highly recommend Sonia and the cooking lesson experience to others. By the way, we researched other options ahead of time and the lesson was not only great but was also a fraction of the cost of other lessons elsewhere. The pool area gets its own paragraph. The pictures of the pool online give you the impression that the pool is large. That is an understatement. It is 25 m long, has both a large shallow and deep end, and is crystal clear as it along with the property are maintained every morning by a gentlemen who you wouldn't know was there if we hadn't woken early to have coffee and watch the sunrise. The size of the pool probably contributed to the fact that the pool temperature was perfect even on the hottest days, as it was too big to get too hot! Biking on the wall was a highlight as was the winery tour at Colle Verde... We have since learned that Alessandra has 2 other properties in Italy, and that Sonia has a property next door that also is for rent, and we will most certainly look to rent from them again. Thanks for a great holiday and for sharing your home with us

The house was very comfortable, spacious, and the quintessential Tuscan villa. Ideal for families. Amazing lap pool, and everything was very well kept and maintained, to the point where a few tiny tiles were loose in the pool and next day we noticed they were miraculously fixed. Great garden for kids to play in and explore. Very close to the town of Lucca so very easy to run into town for gelato, dinner, groceries. Would definitely rent this house again if we come back to Tuscany.

As soon as we arrived at Bell’Estate we knew we were in for a wonderful vacation. The setting of the villa and the surrounding gardens is breathtaking and absolutely private. The interior of the villa is stunning, tastefully furnished, welcoming, and never overwhelming. We – that’s my husband and I and our two children (1 & 3) - felt right at home and loved exploring the gorgeous rooms as well as the grounds. The clear advantage of Bell’Estate over other vacation rentals we had used in the past is the fact that it is not a rental but a real home. I have never seen a better equipped kitchen with pots and pans in various sizes suitable for cooking for small or very large groups. For our meals we had the choice between breakfast room, formal dining room, eat-in kitchen or al fresco dining under the beautiful trees. Also on the ground floor is a very large living room with ample seating, as well as a beautiful study. The bedrooms are upstairs off a huge hall. Ours were very big with comfy beds. Our kids once slept till 9am – this alone is reason enough to come back. An absolute highlight of the place is the gigantic swimming pool. It’s located on a large lawn below the villa with a great view too. It has a shallow part which is great for kids (or adults just wanting to hang out). Even though the villa is in a rural area it’s only a stone throw away from Lucca. Lucca is a beautiful town with much fewer tourists than other Tuscan towns. We loved to stroll around town, explored little restaurants and enjoyed delicious meals and of course ice cream. Thanks to Sonia for the warm welcome, Cinzia for all her help and of course Alessandra for opening up her home for others to enjoy.

I was so fortunate to be able to spend a part of my recent vacation in this lovely Tuscan estate. The perfect spring temperature, with delightful breezes, brought out Bell’Estate’s birds. Their songs and the rustle of branches surrounding the peaceful manor were the only sounds registered in the video I made with my iPad -- the physical beauty of this place and its setting was so astonishing that mere still photos would not have done it justice. Bell’Esate is a perfect sanctuary from which you might never want to leave. But you might want to venture on short excursions to Florence, Pisa, Volterra and other surrounding Tuscan towns. Upon returning from these outings, you will certainly appreciate even more the calm and peacefulness of this vacation home. I plan to visit Rome next spring, and intend to stay in another rental vacation home owned and run by Alessandra. Having experienced her impeccable taste and warm hospitality in Lucca, I can hardly wait to plunge into The Eternal City.

I stayed at Bell' Estate with 7 friends for one week in October. The house was perfect in size, location, setting, convenience, and facilities. The owner, her local assistant, and housekeeper were helpful beyond expectations and made our experience one we will never forget. The estate is beautifully furnished and provided a perfect place to base our explorations of northern Tuscany. I highly recommend Bell' Estate.

We had a GREAT time in Luca this Fall at the Bell' Estate. One couldn't ask for a better place to spend 10 days celebrating retirement with good friends. Alessandra and her sister Sonia couldn't have been nicer and easier to deal with. The house was exactly what we wanted and more. The only problem we had was getting their on the first day and that added to it's ambiance. We would love to come visit and stay at Bell' Estate again.

We had 3 couples staying for a week in the beautiful Bell' Estate near Lucca. Driving directions from Alessandra were exact and we had no problem finding the estate in the hills around Lucca. The photos do not do it justice. It is really a magnificent property. Relaxing by the pool after a day of touring was a perfect end to each day. The villa itself was very clean and the housekeeper who came 3 days during our week was lovely...even helping to get red wine stains from some clothing! Inside , the villa was very homey and comfortable. In the study there are many books, including some detailed mathematical volumes. My husband, the engineer, was quite impressed with those! Sonia came and created a beautiful Tuscan meal for us, helped by her adorable son Georgio. It was great fun. We enjoyed a bike tour around the Lucca area which included a winery and lunch at a local farm, while 2 in our party took a cooking class with Chef Paolo down the road from the villa at Hotel Carignano. Both options were excellent! Meals at the restaurants at the top of the winding hillside road ( Vipore and Lombardo) were both excellent. Make a reservation! (and have the rosemary frites at Vipore!). The villa was easy access to Florence and Pisa and we drove to Cinqua Terra with no difficulty. It is a 3 1/2 hour drive to the rome airport so if you are able fly from Florence, that would be a better option. The only surprise was the presence of mosquitos..we were not expecting that! Coming from Ontario Canada where we are used to mosquitos, it was not such a hardship! Use the bug nets around the beds, they really help, and buy some bug spray! All in all a wonderful stay. Thank you Sonia for your help on site and to Alessandra for your help in coordinating!

This past week was spent entirely at Bell' Estate by eight women celebrating a 60th birthday, and it could not have put a more perfect ending to the delightful two-week experience in Italy. The villa is precisely as represented in the listing - country charm and understated elegance. I will refrain from reiterating all that has been said in previous reviews because they are all perfectly descriptive and accurate. The pictures do not lie! We visited in October and the swimming pool was understandably not available, but the colors of the surrounding grounds changed before our eyes while we were there. We truly felt that we were living the Tuscany life, and could not bring ourselves to leave the delightful kitchen where we prepared and ate breakfast together each morning. Although the showers are small they are comparable to what we found elsewhere in Italy. And although the water pressure prevents multiple showers from being taken at the same time, this did not impede us at all! The master bedroom bed is supported by wood slats and a thinner mattress than might be expected; some may find it harder than they are accustomed to, but I slept wonderfully. The warmth of this fabulous residence wraps itself around its guests and welcomed us as if the owners were there with us and we were family that was visiting. Alessandra was exceptional in her correspondence before the trip and her willingness to answer any questions we had in preparation. Her sister, Sonia, welcomed us herself at the villa and we made arrangements with her for a walking tour of Lucca the following day. Her knowledge of the city and its history, her melodious voice and accent, and her gracious hospitality set the tone for the entire week. The location is ideal for venturing out into the countryside and for exploring other areas of Tuscany. A true flavor of what life might be here is experienced in this exceptional villa. It was VERY difficult to leave and is highly recommended.

We highly recommend Bel' Estate! The villa is lovely and the pool is spectacular. Particularly memorable was our cooking lesson with Sonia and being able to hike up to the church behind the villa through olive groves and vineyards. We spent a glorious week sightseeing in Lucca and further afield on day trips. We recommend a day on the beach at Forte dei Marmi and also driving through the Alpi Apuanes to the town of Barga in the Gafagnana. We hope to return to this beautiful spot one day!

This villa and property was so beautiful and far exceeded all of our expectations. The villa was immaculate and something out of a fairy tale. The villa and property are so well kept- you can tell how much love and pride has gone into the villa over the past years. Our family and friends gathered here for a vacation for the last week of May to first week of June, 2010. The weather was amazing for our entire trip. The last 2 days of our stay were a warmer (85/90 degrees) and the villa was always cool and comfortable literally air conditioned by the hillside breezes. We were a little worried about this detail but it was not an issue at all. The villa location was ideal for daily trips into Lucca center for exploring. The hillside and road the villa is on is very private and lovely for early morning or after dinner walks. We were six in all sleeping in the villa, up until the last evening when 2 additional family members joined us. And the villa very comfortably accommodated the 8 of us. Almost every evening we prepared a delicious large family dinner for up to 14! The kitchen was incredibly well equipped. The large supermarket in Lucca was an easy trip. We visited local vineyards for wine and oil. One night the large group of us traveled to Vipore an amazing nearby restaurant. Lazy days were spent lounging by the pool with cocktails, books or great family stories. We ate lunch al fresco and cooking with herbs from the amazing herb garden. Lunch was beautiful in the comfortable shade in the yard. Alessandra and her sister Sonia are lovely hosts who provided absolute privacy while also assisting and going above and beyond to be sure our stay was comfortable and that all our needs were met. The housekeeper, Cinzia is lovely, helpful and so very trustworthy. This was one of the most amazing unforgettable vacations our family has ever had. I can't say enough great things! We easily traveled to this location from Florence and were also able to easily travel to Viarregio, then onto Rome. Mutliple family members rented cars to explore the region and we traveled from and to the larger cities by train very easily.

My girlfriend and I stayed at Bell’ Estate with family and friends for five unforgettable days. My only complaint is that I wish I could have stayed longer. The house is simply stunning. The spacious living room, beautiful dining area, and homey kitchen provide plenty of space for a family to truly relax and enjoy their vacation. The bedrooms are comfortable, the 3+ bathrooms are nice, and the property, with its magnificent views, is nothing short of spectacular. The villa is large, elegant, and extremely well maintained, yet still feels like a rustic country cabin – which is exactly what I was hoping for. The garden offers a pastoral peace and quiet that seems right out of a Wordsworth poem. Some of the moments I most cherished during our stay (and our entire European vacation for that matter) involved sitting in the garden during the quiet, early morning hours, sipping the fresh espresso I’d just made in the kitchen, and reading a good book. Eventually, I’d make my way down to the pool to bask in the sun, soak in the serene Tuscany scenery, and swim laps in the pool. That’s what vacation is all about for me. If you can convince yourself to leave the property (which I admit was difficult at times), the guestbook that Alessandra provides has detailed to directions to several great restaurants and hiking trails in the area. The nearby town of Lucca is genuinely charming, and Florence is less than an hour’s drive away. Alessandra, the owner of the villa, was so helpful – making sure everything was ok and answering any questions we had. The housekeeper was friendly and accommodating, even helping us with our laundry. The house also provides wireless internet access if that’s important to you. Yeah, so, in case you can’t tell yet, I had an unforgettable time at the Bell’ Estate. I would love to go back and stay for even longer. I did not want to leave.

This villa is happily situated in the hills north of Lucca; there are spectacular views of the hills to the south of the city, from every vantage, and the house is oriented in such a way to inspire true enjoyment of classic, Tuscan landscape. The house and grounds are beautifully preserved and maintained, and are very private. The interior of the villa is filled with beautiful books, furniture, and objects of curiosity and historical interest. Because the ceilings are high, and the walls very thick, the villa stays cool even in intense summer heat if one follows the detailed and knowledgeable instructions provided by the owners. The kitchen is a marvel, and is ideal for anyone who might enjoy finding the readily available and exceptional local produce, and creating meals which may be taken al fresco. Everything was beautifully arranged in expectation of our arrival: there was mosquito netting for each of the beds in each of the bedrooms, there were fresh towels, and additional towels for use at the pool; the beds were extremely comfortable. There were two, well-appointed showers, as well as a large, separate bath. The housekeepers were very helpful in showing us around the house, and were very accommodating, although it helps to have some Italian in order to ask questions, should you have any. This is a villa that clearly belongs to a family who take great care in preparations for guests, and rightly expect that the guests will treat their environment similarly. The gardens are filled with lemon, and other fruit trees, and there is an absolutely huge and magnificent pool suitable for real lap-swimming, or for wasting huge amounts of time to great benefit. The pool also enjoys beautiful views of the hills south of Lucca. There are hoopoes, and wood pidgeon, and even a songbird that sings the first few bars of the Eroica at sunset. There are bats who are considerate enough to deplete the mosquito population at dusk over the pool—definitely a spectator sport. The guest book is filled with useful suggestions from restaurants, to wine tasting, to shopping. We adhered to these suggestions, and this greatly added to our enjoyment of Lucca and the surrounding area. In addition, it was most helpful to be given informed advice about supermarkets, one of which in particular, had spectacular local produce, as well as anything else one might need. Although this m

We stayed at Bell' Estate early August '09. I agree with all the earlier posts - it was wonderful. We were terribly reluctant to leave. There were only two of us, but the house could easily accomodate a group comfortably. A magical place!

Bell' Estate is an enchanting place. It is, first of all, in a lovely location--on a hillside a short drive from Lucca, with views across a valley to ridges with cypress trees and splendid walks in the hills and also along the nearby Serchio River. The home itself is stately, quiet, lush, and extremely comfortable. I was there with a variety of family members, from a 15 year-old nephew to my 80 year-old mother, and before arriving I worried a bit about having a holiday that would suit everyone. But this house turned out to be the centerpiece that made everything work. First of all, it's just gorgeous, both outside and in, and so we were always aware of being in a very special place. We were there in summer, and worried that it might be too warm--but everytime we stepped back inside the massive walls of the house, we were refreshed by its natural coolness. The bedrooms are comfortable and quiet, the bathrooms modern. The kitchen is large and wonderfully equipped; we enjoyed putting together several big family meals, and having them in the formal dining room. In the late afternoon, we sat in chairs on the gravel behind the house, drinking wine and enjoying the great shade trees. I guess the house wouldn't be perfect for those who want a lively night life--but we were happy, at the end of a busy day in Lucca or Florence, to return to its peacefulness. And a couple of nights we walked down to the little restaurant at the foot of the hill for a simple but pleasant dinner. Everything about the house was first-rate. It was immaculate, and the cleaning/laundry service provided by the owner was efficient and unobtrusive. I would certainly recommend the property to a friend, and hope to return to it myself before too long.

I stayed in this house with my husband and children and we had a wonderful time. The views are gorgeous. I loved sitting in bed, looking out the window. The gardens are beautiful and spacious and the children loved exploring them. The kitchen has everything. We had great dinners in the house and really enjoyed the restaurants in the area. We explored the surrounding countryside and hired bikes and cycled around Lucca. The office is a great place to work with WiFi. There is a sense of history about the house and the family that has grown up in it. This house is an experience and I loved it!

My family (including 2 small children) had a delightful one week stay at this house in summer 2005 and again in 2008. The house is authentic, stately, and spacious, with a wonderful kitchen for cooks. We never really felt the need to leave the estate, which is private, peaceful, and beautifully landscaped. The enormous pool has a great area for small children to play. The views of the countryside are magnificent. And when we did feel like getting out the location was perfect - easily accessible to Lucca, a lovely old walled city that isn't so overrun with tourists as other cities in Tuscany, and with great day trips to wine country, beach, and other old cities (including Florence). We loved it!