Vacation Rentals by Owner

Easter Stay

Guest: Dee (California)
Date of Stay: 03/31/12 Review Submitted: 05/05/12

This was an excellent vacation spot for a family. I traveled with my son, daughter-in-law, and 3 and 7 year old. The fenced-in property was ideal for the children. Exploring the Lucca area and meeting realatives, we found our village ideal. Although small, we were quite comfortable; we cooked our own meal frequently and found the place more than adequately supplied with all we needed. Stefania, the owner, was charming, generous with her help and information, and a valuable resource. I have already recommended this home to other "Luchesse" friends.

Recommended for:Families with young children, tourists without a car, sightseeing.

Charming holiday house just outside Lucca.

Guest: Erik from Norway
Date of Stay: 03/17/12 Review Submitted: 05/17/12

We stayed 5 beautiful weeks in this charming holiday house just outside Lucca. The house itself is a typical old-style Tuscan house, with olive threes and a great view of Lucca. But at the same time it is very clean and modern as well. We stayed at the house with our 7 months old baby, and it was a very good place for us to stay - quiet and peacefull. It is several nice trips nearby the house, within 10 min drive it is even possible to visit several great wineyards - which we enjoyed very much. Stefania (the owner) is very helpfull, and she even brought our dog to the veterinar (thank you)! We are missing the slow-life of Tuscany and Lucca, and hopefully we will be able to return to this house some time in the future.

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Tranquil Tuscany

Guest: Jill from Texas USA
Date of Stay: 11/19/11 Review Submitted: 12/08/11

After a week of sight-seeing in Rome this villa near Lucca was exactly what we needed. Having never been to Italy, we were not familiar with the area/region but after a week and a half here we decided it was the perfect Tuscan location; day trips to Florence, Sienna and Pisa (not to mention others). It is close to the coast, close to shopping, close to vineyards and even cooking classes. The villa was exactly as Stefania, the owner, has advertised it; everything worked perfectly and we did not have any problems with anything in the house. Also, to note the owner was extremely accommodating and available to us during our entire stay, which was important to us b/c we were traveling with our 3 small children. The villa sits on almost an acre of land so there is plenty of room to exercise, lounge by the pool in the afternoon sun, or watch your kids climb olive trees. Out time spent here was unforgettable and we have already talked about returning with our parents for a holiday!

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A very nice place for a family

Guest: Petri from Finland
Date of Stay: 10/16/11 Review Submitted: 11/01/11

Villa "Pennechio" is a great place for a family with school age children: a large garden with a pool, enough rooms inside a house and a good location to visit towns, mountains and sea side by car. The owner Stefania is most kind and helpful. She gave us any information we asked. Also, she arranged us an unforgettable, tasty 7 course supper in the villa "Pennecchio" by asking for two professional cooks to come to cook for us. Thanks Paola and Anna! The stay in villa Pennechio was one of the best accommodations we have ever had in Italy.

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A great vacation experience!

Guest: Blair (Colorado Springs, CO USA)
Date of Stay: 10/01/11 Review Submitted: 10/11/11

We couldn't have asked for a better place to spend a week in the region. The villa was excellent, as advertised, and well-kept. The grounds are relaxing and beautiful. The covered pergala is a great place to relax and watch the sun set. The location is perfect for day trips to Pisa, Lucca, Cinque Terre and even Florence. There are several excellent dining experiences within 10-15 minutes of the villa. The villa owner was very accommodating, and even arranged for a professional chef to come to the villa and cook us a wonderful dinner (highy recommended). We would definitely recommend this property to others who want a relaxing, strategic location in the Tuscany region.

Recommended for:Age 55+, families with teenagers, families with young children, romantic getaway, sightseeing.

Tuscany at it's finest!

Guest: Lar,Joan,Ted and Susan (Ontario, Canada)
Date of Stay: 09/17/11 Review Submitted: 09/30/11

We loved our Villa. Pool,gardens and home were professionally kept. Close to Pisa,Florence and Cinque Terre. Stefania (who lives nearby) was friendly and very helpful with concerns. Tuscan candlelit evenings in the gazebo were magical. Very comfortable for 2 couples. Would happily stay at this villa again.

Recommended for:Families with young children, girls getaway, romantic getaway, sightseeing.

Italian Villa

Guest: Cazzy (Portland, Oregon)
Date of Stay: 08/27/11 Review Submitted: 09/19/11

The villa is beautiful, clean and well kept. I loved the historical building and the grounds. It's not a place to say without a car as you are in the country, not near stores or restaurants. Stefania is charming, warm and helpful. She lives near the Villa and is helpful with your needs. She's someone you want to be friends with forever. My only recommendation is getting to the villa. Our flight was late so we arrived when it was dark and couldn't find the home with the directions that come on the website. I would recommend that the owner write the directions more clearly and have her meet you at a specified location on the main road, driving you to the home. We didn't have a GPS with us.

Recommended for:Adventure seekers, age 55+, families with teenagers, families with young children, girls getaway, romantic getaway, sightseeing.

Great location !!

Guest: Jenny - London, United Kingdom
Date of Stay: 08/06/11 Review Submitted: 09/02/11

Good accommodation, exactly as described, in a great location. The garden really is huge and the pool above average size for a private property. Well-equipped both outside - sunbeds etc - and inside - plenty of kitchen utensils, crockery etc. Perfect for visiting Lucca, Florence and the Versilian beaches. A real highlight for us was the very grand aristocratic Luccan villas and gardens, all within a 10 minute drive, which are open to the public and absolutely stunning. Stefania is extremely professional and did everything to ensure that we were happy - thank you!

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Recommendable for those who enjoy a large garden.

Guest: Jan from Nederland
Date of Stay: 07/09/11 Review Submitted: 08/06/11

We look back at a wonderful holiday in villa "Pennechio" in Tuscany. Especially the large, fenced garden with swimming pool combined with a beatiful surrounding view (the mountains and city of Lucca) made it a true outstanding experience for us as well as our 3 and 6 year old kids. The property is central located allowing many day trips into Tuscany (Lucca, Pisa, ViaReggio, Forte dei Marmi,Chianti, Siena, Florence etc). Owner Stefania is a very kind and warm personality with a great sense for service. She has turned this property into a beatiful place where we easily could stay for months ...

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Guest: Ed and Diana - USA
Date of Stay: 05/28/11 Review Submitted: 06/09/11

A Great Week at "Villa Penecchio". Am sitting here writing this wishing we were back in Italy. The week spent at the villa was one we will remember for a long time. It was in a great location outside of Lucca, but an easy drive to Florence, Pisa, Viareggio, Cinque Terra (La Spezia), and Prato - where we made day trips during the week we were there. There are so many 16th century villas (mansions) within a few kilometers drive of the house - we purposely drove around aimlessly exploring, and would stop in and visit or just to 'gawk' through the gates. There also are many wine and olive vineyards to visit. We stopped in one and got a private tour of the olive oil process and bought some organic oil to bring home. Stefania is so sweet, and goes out of her way to ensure you have a great stay. The villa used to be a cow barn that she convered to a house, which looks just like the pictures posted online. Everyone was glad there were screens on the windows to keep the flies and bees out. The bedrooms are air conditioned which we used a few nights that were a bit warm. There was a problem with the water and within 30 minutes of calling Stefania, she was at the house with a plumber who immediately fixed it. We highly recommend Villa Penecchio!

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Old Friends Say Yes! to Lucca

Guest: Lynne, Jim, Brenda, and Mike (Nashville and Atlanta)
Date of Stay: 05/21/11 Review Submitted: 08/02/11

Four of us came from the states to stay for a week, and it was a great experience. Stephania greeted us with robust enthusiasm and checked on us several times during the week to make sure all was OK. The location is superb, and we visited Lucca, the Cinqueterra, Barga, Florence, San Gimignano, and Montecatini Alto - all within a few hours drive or train ride. The accommodations were clean and the kitchen set-up was great for cooking. However, the pergola was the best place for all of us to sit quietly wih our morning cafe or our evening wine, looking out over the mountains beyond Lucca and enjoying the cool evening after a brief swim. We would definitely go back, and Stephania would once again welcome us with flowing hospitality - as did almost every Italian, Thanks for a wonderful week of touring northern Tuscany and sitting quietly with old friends. Lynne, Jim, Brenda, and Mike

Recommended for:Age 55+, families with teenagers, families with young children, girls getaway, romantic getaway, sightseeing.

Guest: Marika - Finland
Date of Stay: 05/21/11 Review Submitted: 06/08/11

We found a beautiful holiday villa from Tuscany ! We visited in Stefania's house on May 2011. Our group contained 4 adults and 3 kids (1, 3 and 3 years old). The house was perfect for our purposes. Bedrooms were big enough and Stefania kindly arranged us a baby cot. Kitchen was equipped well and again, Stefania kindly arranged us two high chairs, one to kitchen and one to the garden. We cooked pretty much ourselves. All machines worked OK and it was very easy and professional co-operate with Stefania. She also gave us good information about services in Lucca. The house is pretty and clean and the garden - it is beautiful! And it feels even bigger than one can imaging when watching pictures. Also the near surroundings are very much worth of seeing.

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Pennecchio Is Everything We Expected and More.....

Guest: Mike (California, USA)
Date of Stay: 10/02/10 Review Submitted: 11/06/10

Stefania has done a wonderful job of describing her property and we were not disappointed, in fact, we were delighted not only by the property but by the surroundings. We were two adult couples and made great use of the outdoor eating area.... cocktails at 5:00, dinner to follow. Stefania was delightful and very helpful in orienting us to the property and local attractions. She went beyond by arranging for a local cook, Carla, to arrive at "Pennecchio" early one evening and prepare a traditional Tuscany meal in our kitchen complete with wine and an anniversary cake for our friends. A most memorable evening with a meal that amounted to some 9 courses and at a reasonable cost. The rural property is located such that you can enjoy the quiet of the evening resting in the expansive garden while listening to distant church bells, yet an easy drive to Lucca and simple day trips to all of the other well known Tuscan cities. We would highly recommend this property and plan to return.

Recommended for:Age 55+, families with teenagers, families with young children, girls getaway, romantic getaway, sightseeing.

Idyllic Tuscan retreat.

Guest: Kevin (London, England)
Date of Stay: 09/04/10 Review Submitted: 09/21/10

I have stayed at Stefania's villa many times over the past several years with family and friends. The house is very comfortable and the situation stunning: the garden is extensive with a huge sweeping lawn, a pergola under which we ate our meals, a lovely pool and an olive grove. It's secluded and surrounded by wonderful views of the Apuanian Alps. It's about a twenty minute drive from Lucca, one of the finest walled cities in the area, and perfectly positioned to explore the many towns high up in the Tuscan hills or along the coast. But sometimes it's tempting to stay in the peace and quiet of the villa by the pool or under the shade of an olive tree. Stefania is charming and ever-helpful, and there's no doubt I'll be returning.

Recommended for:Age 55+, families with teenagers, pet owners, romantic getaway, sightseeing.

Family of 4 including 2 teenaged girls from Australia

Guest: O,G,G,S (Australia)
Date of Stay: 07/03/10 Review Submitted: 07/29/10

We stayed in Stefania's villa in July 2010. The house was very clean and comfortable. The decor was in keeping with the tuscan theme and the kitchen very well equiped. We cooked quite a bit and it was handy having the BBQ. The garden was superb, just what you would hope for. We read books by the pool under the olive trees and we ate all our meals under the jasmine covered pergola.We did several day trips very easily to some of the Tuscan towns and to Cinque Terre by train which was a highlight.Stefania was lovely and very helpful and she included some nice touches such as the basket of food left on the kitchen table and plenty of guide books and brochures. We had dinner at a very nice restaurant nearby where you don't order, dishes of delicious food just keep appearing! We thoroughly enjoyed our stay.

Recommended for:Age 55+, families with teenagers, romantic getaway, sightseeing.

Comfortable farmhouse with lovely gardens. Good value for the price

Guest: JL_Cruz (California)
Date of Stay: 06/05/10 Review Submitted: 06/14/10

Enjoyed a week with an extended family of 7. The grounds are great, with nice clean pool. Jasmine covered pergola was great for outdoor meals. It's close to Lucca, and there are several deluxe hotels/restaurants nearly when we did not feel like cooking. Highly recommend Tenuta San Pietro nearby for view, food and service. The living room pull-out couch is like many - neither a great couch or bed, but adequate for kids. Would book again.

Recommended for:Families with teenagers, families with young children.

Guest: Nirav
Date of Stay: 05/29/10 Review Submitted: 07/12/10

Amazing holiday experience. We are a family from India and when I first reserved this villa I was very confused as to how it would be. But right from the owner to the villa every thing was excellent. The house is very neat and fully stocked. The owner is very helpful. The location though quiet is still close to a town and not far from Pisa or Lucca. I would strongly suggest this place for anyone wanting real Tuscan experience.

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I suggest, "Gated Tuscan Villa with Spectacular Views, Lovely Guest House, Beautiful Pool and AC.

Guest: zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz (Baltimore, Maryland-USA)
Date of Stay: 05/08/10 Review Submitted: 06/11/10

Our stay in Tuscany was extra special because of this beautiful villa which my wife, brother and I thoroughly enjoyed for 7 days. The property is exactly what you want to experience while in Tuscany. Nestled in an olive grove with spectacular views of the surrounding mountains, small villages and the beautiful city of Lucca. As part of the villa there is a marvelous swimming pool which is very well maintained and forms a focal point for the view of the villa from the house. In addition, there is a covered veranda, just a short distance from the pool where we enjoyed many evening meals. One evening, my daughter and son-in-law from from Holland stopped by and grilled steaks on the grill which is located just to the rear of the veranda. The grounds of the villa are most enjayable, user friendly, and a valuable addtional to a stay at this villa. The restored barn, which is now a well equiped and very comforable 3 bedroom / 2 bath guest house, is outstanding. We had plenty of room to gather and discuss the days activity, quite nights for restful sleep and a fully equiped kitchen for meal preparation. The furnishings throughout the house are in keeping with the regional and made us feel as residents not visitors. Finally, our hostess, Stafnia Petrone is a gracious, warm and responsive young business women who was intent on making our vist special, and she did just that. I highly recommend this property and plan to return again in the near future.

Recommended for:Age 55+, families with teenagers, families with young children, romantic getaway, sightseeing.

Guest: Reinier en Mirjam
Date of Stay: 05/01/10 Review Submitted: 05/27/10

De villa is een echte aanrader. De villa ligt prachtig en heeft uitzicht op Lucca. De tuin is fantastisch en is uitgerust met een groot zwembad, een leuk overdekt terras met tafel en stoelen, waterput en ligstoelen en veel olijfbomen. Het huis is met smaak ingericht en het is heel schoon en netjes. Mrs. Petroni is een heel aardige vrouw die houdt van perfectie.

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Guest: Michele
Date of Stay: 04/24/10 Review Submitted: 05/19/10

Nous avons passé un excellent séjour. La maison est conforme aux photos, l'intérieur est bien aménagé et la maison bien équipée. L'accueil de Stéfania a été particulièrement chaleureux, elle nous a donné toutes les informations nécessaires pour avoir un séjour agréable. Beaucoup de documentation disponible sur cette belle région. L'environnement est calme, le jardin est bien entretenu et la tonnelle est vraiment agréable. Au mois d'avril nous n'avons pas pu tester la piscine car le temps était encore un peu frais. Lucca,Pise, Florence sont facilement accessibles. Un très bon séjour!" Je vous recommande vivement cet endroit magnifique.

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Guest: Joandjan
Date of Stay: 03/27/10 Review Submitted: 05/16/10

Stayed a family of six in March. Beautiful cared for all details in this Toscan house. It is placed in the outskirts of Lucca city area with a beautiful view: pool and olive grove in the foreground and Lucca and the mountains in the background. Cousy barbecue area outside and well kept very large garden. Sefania is a flexible and very kind a helpful host. She does her outmost to make the stay a pleasant one.

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