Recently, my wife and I joined a group of friends on vacation in Tuscany, Italy. Most of us took a non-stop Delta flight from New York (JFK) to Pisa, Italy because the airport in Pisa is a short 25-minute drive to our villa in the small town of Vorno. Pisa International Galileo Galilei Airport is a small airport, and we were able to pass through customs and retain our luggage in a mere 35 minutes. Next, we went to pick up our rental cars. A rental car, or private transportation, is required for anyone staying in Tuscany because public transportation is limited. The roads were surprisingly quite well marked, making the driving fairly easy.

As check-in time is not until 4 pm in the afternoon, we decided to explore and find a quiet café at which to enjoy lunch and unwind. Afterward, we ventured into Lucca, an enchanting medieval city enclosed by an imposing, well-preserved 16th century wall. Lucca is renowned for its anfiteatro, an arena-shaped piazza, and the church of San Michele. Our time in Lucca was spent exploring shops and enjoying a stroll along the road on top of the wall, which is closed to vehicular traffic.

Before we knew it, it was time to head for our home for the week, the Villa Controni, a 16th century estate. So we parted ways with the members of our group who were staying at different villas in Tuscany, and off we went. The 20-minute drive from Lucca to our villa was about as picturesque as one could imagine. With sun glistening over the hills and vineyards, we felt like we were driving within a picture-perfect postcard.

We entered the property of the estate where we would be staying for the week through a massive gate followed by a tree-lined drive. The estate is comprised of four luxurious villas and one annex. The main house, the Villa Controni, was recently restored; it is an aristocratic home of great charm with 11 elegant and luxuriously-appointed guestrooms for up to 22 guests.

The main entrance leads into an extraordinary formal dining room and a salon with comfortable sofas, armchairs, and a log fire place—the perfect place for guests to read, relax, or just have idle conversation. On the ground floor there is a kitchen perfectly equipped for a private chef—which is a good thing because we pre-booked one for our stay!

11 spacious guestrooms and an outstanding central salon with comfortable sofas, armchairs, and a satellite television make up the first and second floors. Villa Controni also features its own private swimming pool and an exercise room that’s just a short walk from beautiful gardens that encase the back of the main house and provide the perfect area to just relax under the sun or dine with guests al fresco on the back deck, overlooking the Tuscan sun.

After the tour of the main house, we took a short walk to our villa and settled in.

Casa del Fattore, the original farm house of the estate, is a gorgeous example of a Tuscan country house. This luxurious villa is set in on the slope of a hill, providing a spectacular panoramic view of the vineyards and olive groves of the Tuscan countryside below. Fully air-conditioned, Casa del Fattore has eight spacious guestrooms with en-suite bathrooms and a four-bedroom annex located next door that accommodates an additional eight people. This villa is a little more relaxed in its style than the main house. But do not mistake this for a lack of luxury, as it is still a beautiful home and a perfect place for a gathering of friends.

The ground floor of our villa included a fully-equipped kitchen, a formal dining room, a lounge with a fireplace and satellite television, a conservatory, and two well-appointed bathrooms. The next two floors offered eight guestrooms with stunning views of the Tuscan landscape and an en suite bath, fully heated and air-conditioned. Casa del Frattore also has a wonderful pool behind the house, reached by a beautiful, terraced walkway.

Once we were unpacked and settled into our villa, we decided visit our friends and see the other two villas on the estate where they were staying.

Casa Felice Matteucci is a gem of a Tuscan farmhouse with six bedrooms. Recently-restored, it overlooks olive groves and a pristine lake that has an island accessible by bridge. With enough room for up to 12 guests, the home also features a swimming pool, comfort (fully heated and air-conditioned) and the service of a housekeeper six days a week.

Also, surrounded by terraced olive groves, Il Frantoio was originally an olive press. This four-bedroom house has a fully-equipped kitchen and breakfast room, and each bedroom has elegant, beamed ceilings and the original terracotta floors. Il Frantoio also features its own private pool and terrace area for a late night glass of wine or for a wonderful dinner al fresco. Although this is the smallest villa on the estate, it is perhaps one of the most charming, and perfect for our friends Bill and Suzy, who were traveling with their three teenage sons.

The first evening of our trip we ventured into Vorno and ate at a local Italian restaurant called Bimbatto. Five minutes from our villa in the heart of town, this family-owned restaurant is not geared towards the tourist trade, although anyone would feel welcome here. Upon arriving, you immediately sense the charm of the area, and of its people. We were greeted by the smell of fresh bread baking in the oven and one of the owners who made us feel like family. The staff speaks English and the menu was bilingual, so there were no communication issues. The food was amazing and very reasonably priced. The restaurant also had a stellar selection of Italian wines. Make sure you save room for dessert because you will not be able to resist. All in all, it was an excellent choice for our first dinner.

Stay tuned for Part Two of my account of my vacation in Tuscany. First, I’ll provide a sneak peak at the luxurious villas that our other friends were staying in. Then, we’ll take a field trip where I’ll guide you on a virtual tour through the historic streets of Lucca.

My Bio

Steve Lassman joined Villas of Distinction in January
of 2005, building upon 15 successful years in the travel
industry. He is truly passionate about the leisure travel
business and has been a strong supporter of the travel agency distribution network throughout his career. Steve says the greatest part of his job is the lifelong friendships he has developed over the years with travel agency partners.

When Steve isn’t on an airplane, he can be found watching hockey, listening to his enormous music collection, or playing golf.