Casa Tolomei is a very special villa, known to everyone in the area. A surprising number of the elder local population seem to have grown up playing inside the house or in the garden. We found the house in a woeful condition and have spent almost 4 years performing a sympathetic restoration, retaining all historic features including ancient tile floors, frescoes, original doors and windows, and so on.

The house is internationally known because the English poets Robert & Elizabeth Barret-Browning were summer residents here in the 1850's and wrote many surviving letters from this address, while working on their poetry. The house contains much reference material concerning the visits of the poets.

Furthermore, the world renowned composer Giacomo Puccini was a regular guest as he was the lifelong best friend of the villa's owner Adriano Bastiani. Puccini is known to have slept here in one of guest bedrooms, played piano in the frescoed sala (sadly the piano is no longer there), and played with the children of the family in the garden after arriving in his motor car, of which he was one of the earliest proponents.

Staying here is an experience in itself. It's an original noble Tuscan villa which allows guests to step back in time and experience the dolce vita lifestyle in original surroundings.

Wonderful frescoes adorn the inside and outside of the house - the main facade of the house has had its early Liberty (Art Nouveau) period frescoes uncovered and retouched during the recent restoration, and several rooms have frescoes on walls and/or ceilngs.

The house is located in the historic town centre of Bagni di Lucca, a few steps from the Tourist office, with a lovely cafe a few doors away on one side (serving their freshly made pastries and other treats) and a well-known restaurant virtually next door on the other side. Banks, the bookshop, the newsagent, bars, all the well-known restaurants, the Irish Pub, and supermarkets are all within a few metres.

Despite the convenient location, guests will find the split-level garden to be a tranquil and private spot, and from here one can admire the impressive garden monument, the mature palm trees and the neo-classical facade of this side of the Villa which incorporates the original window decorations. In summer there is a pool (5.5 m x 3 m, depth 1.2m) plus tables, chairs and umbrellas.

In the immediate vicinity of the house one can find nature walks (including the Poets Walk along the river, accessed via steps across the road from the house) and all services such as restaurants, banks and supermarkets. In the locality there are adventure opportunities such as kayaking, horse-riding and the Canyon Adventure Park.