Sunny, Luxurious Penthouse Inside the Historic Walls of Lucca
- Minimum stay:7 nights
- Internet:Yes
- Pets allowed:No
- Wheel chair accessible:No
Incredibly spacious, one-of-a-kind apartment with an outstanding panoramic view of rooftops, manicured gardens, distant hills and nearby Romanesque church towers.
A generous foyer entry opens to a dramatic 28-foot living and dining room with 12-foot ceilings, massive chestnut beams, ceramic tile floors, and a marble fireplace.
Off the living room, you are drawn to the amazing 18-foot sun room, boasting a wall of sliding glass doors offering a panoramic view to the south. In temperate weather, you can open these doors to a width of 8 feet, bringing the outdoors in. It is a perfect spot for enjoying your morning coffee in the company of family and friends. Our Lucchesi visitors marvel at this room, so bright year round, since most apartments in the old city are quite dark.
Adjoining the sun room is a remodeled kitchen features a gas range, refrigerator with freezer compartment, dishwasher, fully equipped with dishes, tableware, glasses, pots and pans.
There are two spacious bedrooms. One is on the main level with a king-sized bed, an antique armoire and 12-foot ceilings. A broad hardwood spiral staircase leads to the second bedroom, a converted loft with skylight and stunning views of the Guinigi Tower, red-tile roof tops, and the Lucca Hills in the distance. The upstairs bedroom has two single beds that can be pushed together or set apart.
On the main level, there is a renovated full bath with shower, bidet, vanity with marble top, and large skylight, and a separate laundry room with clothes washer and drying rack.
The apartment is furnished with a combination of antiques and contemporary pieces, as well as the owners’ growing collection of original 20th and 21st-century Tuscan art.
It is equipped with television and WiFi.
Sheets and towels provided.
THE PALAZZO
The apartment is located on the top floor of a renovated 14th-century palazzo in the heart of the historic center of Lucca, within easy walking distance of all the shops, restaurants, and museums, as well as the festivals, concerts, and other events that take place inside the walls.
There are 64 shallow stone steps from ground level to the apartment, located three flights up from street level. The palazzo does not have an elevator, but you are rewarded for your climb by spectacular views when you reach the top.
Located just one block away from the apartment there is a small supermarket, the only one inside the walls. A five-day-a-week fresh food market is just around the corner, as well as a bakery, a café, a butcher, a wine merchant, and much more.
THINGS TO DO WITHIN THE WALLS
Tour the picturesque Romanesque architecture of the cathedral of San Martino, and the churches of San Michele, San Frediano, and Santa Maria Bianca.
Eat at some of the finest restaurants in Tuscany, most very reasonably priced, many specializing in the delicious local cuisine, many with outdoor seating. We provide our guests with a list of our favorites.
Bicycle or walk along the famous Renaissance defensive walls. Lucca is the only major city in Italy whose walls are still fully intact. You can circle the entire city by foot in less than an hour, a distance of about 2.5 miles.
Sample the gelato or enjoy an apertif in one of several cafés in the Piazza Anfiteatro, the ancient Roman amphitheatre, reborn as a gathering spot for dining al fresco and special musical performances, many of them free of charge.
Visit some of the many delightful small museums spread throughout the city, and the beautiful Botanical Gardens.
Climb the 15th-century Guinigi Tower with its distinctive rooftop garden of ilex trees, just one block from the apartment.
Shop for designer fashions along Via Fillungo, or for contemporary art along Via Sant’ Andrea, or fine antiques along Via del Battistero. Enjoy the city-wide antiques fair on the third weekend of each month.
Study Italian language at the Koine school, just 3 blocks from the apartment.
Take Italian cooking classes.
NEARBY DESTINATIONS
From the center of the city it is just twenty minutes to the surrounding Lucca Hills, where you can visit magnificent Renaissance villas and gardens, as well as local vineyards and olive oil producers.
Also just twenty minutes away are Pisa with its famous Leaning Tower, the spa town of Bagni di Lucca, the beaches at Viareggio, and Torre del Lago, with its summer festival of Puccini operas performed at an open air theater overlooking the lake.
The charming hill towns of Barga and Coreglia dell’ Antelminelli are less than an hour away. In that same northerly direction, you can go hiking along the mountain trails of the Garfagnana.
And magical Florence with its peerless collection of Italian Renaissance art, is just over an hour away by train or bus.
Keywords: Condominium, panoramic, luxury, renovated, charming
Property Type
- 4 story
- Condo
- On floor 4
- 1350 sq. ft.
Accommodation Type
- Vacation Rental
Meals
- Guests Provide Their Own Meals
Suitability
- Non Smoking Only
- Pets Not Allowed
Bedrooms
- 2 Bedrooms, Sleeps 4, Beds for 4
- Bedroom 1
- Bedroom 2
Bathrooms
- 1.0 Bathrooms
- Bathroom 1
Kitchen & Dining
- Coffee Maker
- Cooking Utensils
- Dishwasher
Amenities
- Hair Dryer
- Linens Provided
- Wood Fireplace
Other Amenities
Entertainment
- Television
- DVD Player
- Stereo
- Satellite / Cable
- CD Player
Communications
- Internet
Theme
- Away From It All
- Historic
- Luxury
- Romantic
- Tourist Attractions
Location & View
- Car Not Necessary
Activities
- Botanical Garden
- Swimming
- Mountaineering
- Mountain Climbing
- Hospital
- Groceries
- ATM/Bank
- Antiquing
- Sight Seeing
- Shopping
- Walking
- Restaurants
- Theme Parks
- Live Theater
- Cinemas
- Museums
- Winery Tours
- Ruins
- Playground
- Churches
- Cycling
- Hiking
Other Activities
Reviews
Write a review-
Room with a View and More
Room with a View and More
- Guest Nina Huebsch
- Date of stay 05/13/12
- Review Submitted 10/01/12
I lived in this lovely apartment for three months from mid-May until mid-August. The apartment has everything. An added bonus is that there is a music school behind the apartment. So, with the doors to the sunroom open music floated into the apartment. It almost felt like a movie set. The photos are accurate, the apartment was clean and the owners responsive. It is near to the main street in Lucca and a grocery market and a food market with various vendors are two minutes away from the apartment. This apartment provides a special experience of living in Lucca. Try it, you will surely love it as I did.Recommended for: Romantic getaway, girls getaway, families with teenagers, tourists without a car, age 55+, sightseeing.
Did you find this review helpful? Yes | No Helpful votes: 0/0
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We Look Forward to a Return Visit
Guest comment entered by ownerWe Look Forward to a Return Visit
- Guest Karen
- Date of stay 05/26/12
- Review Submitted 06/14/12
Our time in Lucca was so wonderful -- your apartment is exquisite, beautifully decorated, well equipped and so spacious. A special treat was hearing a concert pianist practising a few floors below and across from us. Then a soprano began her practice. We sat in the living room with the sliding doors open and had our own private concert. The 64 steps up to the apartment helped counter the calories of our delicious meals. The kiddos did well -- enjoying the neighborhood and even playing soccer with a couple of Italain boys one morning. We so enjoyed your apartment and look forward to a return visit.Did you find this review helpful? Yes | No Helpful votes: 0/0
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Everything we had imagined...and more!
Everything we had imagined...and more!
- Guest Anne, Julia and Sandie
- Date of stay 09/23/11
- Review Submitted 11/21/11
Staying in Lucca in this beautiful apartment was the highlight of our trip to Italy. To wake up every morning to the sunrise over the rooftops, plan our day walking the wall, shopping or visiting nearby sights and then ending it all with a glass of wine watching the sunset to some beautiful music.....lasting memories! The photos are 100% accurate. The apartment is very large, comfortable and everything works. Almost as important to us was the personal touch of the owners, who made contact before we left and provided lots of written infomation on how maximize our stay. We would recommend this to any friends or family, and indeed....already have!Recommended for: Romantic getaway, girls getaway, families with teenagers, tourists without a car, age 55+, sightseeing.
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Guest comment entered by owner
- Guest Dan and Liz
- Date of stay 10/09/10
- Review Submitted 03/29/11
We thoroughly enjoyed our stay in your apartment in Lucca! The location was ideal! We watched the sky lighten over the lovely roof tops each morning and enjoyed the comforts of the apartment. Thank you so much for letting us stay in your lovely apartment.Did you find this review helpful? Yes | No Helpful votes: 0/1
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Perfect apartment, breathtaking view, ideal location
Perfect apartment, breathtaking view, ideal location
- Guest Let's Move Here!
- Date of stay 10/01/10
- Review Submitted 10/10/10
This penthouse was our home for one week in Lucca, and was so idyllic we added it to our short list of "Let's come back" properties. For context, we are a well-traveled baby boomer couple who are working professionals and enjoy vacations that mix sightseeing, getting acquainted with local people, great dining and lazing about. We seek uncluttered accommodations with architectural character, lots of elbow room and sunlight, a convenient location, and are quiet. We look for housing that feels authentic to the country, and feels like someone's home instead of a rental machine. This spotless apartment is a grand slam. Here's why: It’s on a quiet street within walking distance of the train and bus stations, pastry shops, restaurants, markets, stores, piazzas, shops with delicious "heat and eat" meals, many sights, and access to Lucca's wall. The light-filled entry and living room feel spacious and open. The couch is perfect for stretching out weary legs and reading, with frequent intervals to look at the sweeping rooftops-and-sky view. Thoughtful details include excellent reading lighting, for-your-use maps, travel books, CD player and CDs, and manuals for the major appliances. The sunroom's informal dining table is where we planned our days and ate breakfast and several dinners. A door opens into the adjoining laundry room, making it convenient to wash clothes without looking at piles of Darks, Lights and Delicates. One of those ingenious clothes drying racks does its job overnight. The galley kitchen includes everything you need. The above-sink cabinet is a drying cupboard, making it easy to hand wash a few items and pop them out of sight to drip dry. An arched doorway to the sunroom lets the cook enjoy the view. The master bedroom and the one bathroom are separated from the public area by a sleek sliding door that glides open and closed with one finger. As you enter, two built-in wardrobes on left left provide space for unpacking your suitcase, hanging clothes and tucking things in drawers. On the right is the large bathroom with skylight, marble sink counter, toilet, bidet and roomy shower. The spacious master bedroom includes an armoire, bureau, comfortable bed, terrific reading lights, and large shuttered window with a street and sky view. We didn't use the upstairs second bedroom, yet it seems comfortable for anyone who can use a spiral staircase. Finally, the American owners are extremely helpful and responsive. Buon viaggio!Recommended for: Romantic getaway, families with teenagers, tourists without a car, age 55+, sightseeing.
Did you find this review helpful? Yes | No Helpful votes: 2/2
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Guest comment entered by owner
- Guest Ingrid & Charlie
- Date of stay 08/23/10
- Review Submitted 08/30/10
Lucca was beautiful. Your apartment was perfect. You were right about the air conditioning -- we never used it. We ate extremely well. There is a new restaurant just down the street from your apartment -- near the outdoor movie theatre -- that is first-rate. We walked the wall. Drank many cappuccinos. Drank lots of wine -- which was some of the best I've had and so inexpensive.Did you find this review helpful? Yes | No Helpful votes: 0/0
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Guest comment entered by owner
- Guest James & Sally
- Date of stay 11/27/08
- Review Submitted 08/30/10
We have just returned to Australia and write to let you know how greatly we enjoyed your wonderful Lucca home. What a glorious apartment in a most special city!!! Thank you for sharing it with us. From the evening when we arrived and walked up Via Sant' Andrea all lit up with beautiful Christmas lights, we were enchanted. The view from the sun room was endlessly captivating and vista from the loft was magnificent. It was a joy to be there.Did you find this review helpful? Yes | No Helpful votes: 0/0
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Guest comment entered by owner
- Guest Evan & Tess
- Date of stay 08/13/10
- Review Submitted 08/30/10
The apartment was wonderfully romantic. I had no idea what to expect actually. The photographs on the website are very clear but somehow I had no idea how big and incredibly spacious it would be. (I'm thinking of raising the ceilings in our apartment at home now.) My new point of view on travel is this: to travel without a kitchen, is not really traveling -- just as to live in a house with no kitchen, that wouldn't really be living . . . it would just be a place to go between meals.Did you find this review helpful? Yes | No Helpful votes: 0/0
Rates
| Dates | Nightly | Wknd Night | Weekend | Weekly | Monthly * | Event |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Base Rate 7 night min stay |
$1295 | $4200 | ||||
|
Discounts: 14 nights or more $170 nightly |
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Additional information about rental rates
Payment may be made by personal check, bank check, or by PayPal.
Half of the amount due is paid upon reservation, and is non-refundable except to the extent that we are able to find a new guest to occupy the apartment during your reservation period. The balance is due 30 days brfore your arrival in Lucca.
Additional Fees and Taxes:
In addition to the base rates, there is a $75.00 set-up fee, and a refundable $100.00 deposit for return of the keys.
This owner accepts HomeAway's most secure form of payment.
HomeAway PaymentsSM is the most secure way to pay and automatically protects your payment up to $10,000 (learn more). Call the owner directly to confirm payment details.
Location
- Nearest Airport: Pisa (Aeroporto Civile Galileo Galilei) at 10 Kilometres
- Nearest Train: Lucca at 1 Kilometres
- Nearest Motorway: A11 at 3 Kilometres
- Nearest Beach: Viareggio at 10 Kilometres
- Nearest Barpub: RIstorante Cantine Bernardini at 250 Metres
- Nearest Restaurant: Locanda Sant' Andrea at 75 Metres
Owner info
Year Purchased: 2005
About the owner: We've been coming to Lucca for several years, as we've had family connections to the region. We were captivated by the town and its culture -- food, music, history, and lively schedule of special events throughout the year. We appreciate its proximity to Florence, the mountains, and the beaches. But we especially love that it is NOT Florence -- that it is slightly off the beaten path -- and that it has not 'sold out' to tourism.
Why the Owner Chose Lucca:
It is HISTORIC, dating from the 14th-century. It is CONVENIENT, in a walking neighborhood full of shops and restaurants. It is WELCOMING, with airy rooms, elegant contemporary and antique furnishings, and fascinating views.
The Unique Benefits at this Condo:
Our apartment is a lovely place to spend time and relax. Many of our guests have been artists who have sent us copies of their drawings and paintings of the views from our windows. Others mention having taken pleasure in the soft strains of classical music that fill the air when you open the windows in the sun room, since the palazzo behind our apartment is occupied by the town music school, the Istituto Boccherini.
Contact us
- Primary: (703) 312-1146
Links to more information:
Photos
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View from Sun Room
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Living & Dining Area
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Kitchen
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Sun Room -- View of Gardens Below
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Upstairs Loft Bedroom with Skylight and Dormer Window
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View of Guinigi Tower from Upstairs Loft Bedroom
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Double Doors Open to Foyer
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Living & Dining Area
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Sun Room With Sliding Windows in Open Position
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Main Level Bedroom
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View from Upstairs Loft Bedroom
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Bath
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This listing was first published here in 2010.
Date last modified - Saturday, February 16, 2013
(703) 312-1146