Probably our favourite luxury villa in Lucca, Borgo Bernardini is an ultra-luxurious hideaway for international celebrities and those seeking the finest the world has to offer. This splendid 12 bedroom air-conditioned villa was built originally as a hunting lodge for the Tuscan elite. Today Borgo Bernardini is an enchanting and beautifully restored historic luxury villa for rent within the estate of the late Count Cosmini Bernardini. The villa has a sense of majesty, the public rooms are lavishly yet comfortably furnished, the bedrooms are large, regal, and impeccably designed. As one of our guests recently commented, “a trial period in heaven!” To put it in personal terms – the owners of TuscanDream have selected Borgo Bernardini for their luxury villa in Lucca several times – and are looking forward to returning… the villa is just that marvelous!
Hidden away in the Lucchese hills just ten minutes from the walled city of Lucca, the estate features spectacular landscaping with its cypress, magnolia, and weeping willow trees, lillied lakes, and fountains. Borgo Bernardini’s rooms are large, lush, and impeccably decorated.
Guests at Borgo Bernardini have arrived in Paradise – and there are so many things to experience near the villa that it’s hard to pack everything you will want to do into just one week’s stay! Besides private cooking lessons at your villa conducted by top Tuscan chefs, we offer wine tasting both at the villa or at the awesome Enoteca Vanni located on the Piaza San Salvatore in Lucca. In addition to the treasure trove of art residing in Lucca’s 100 churches and splendid museums, there is the Puccini opera festival with an opera every evening. Although the operas rotate amongst five different locations, we particularly recommend experiencing the power of a performance at the San Giovanni Basilique, one of the most beautiful churches in all of the world.
The Lucca Summer Festival features major performers; the Rolling Stones, Elton John, Eric Clapton, Lenny Kravitz, and Robbie Williams have headlined the festival in recent years. Florence’s world-famous museums, the Uffizi and l’Accademia, are only an hour from the villa. No stay in Lucca is complete without an excursion to Cinque Terre, the picturesque UNESCO world heritage site, which can be reached by train, car, or private yacht, and the Leaning Tower of Pisa is only a 25-minute drive from the villa. Sportsmen will love the area with four major golf courses fairly nearby – the Tirrenia Golf club in Pisa, Versilia on the coast, Montecatini Golf Club set in rolling olive groves, the stunning Pavoniere in Prato as well as the course at Poggio dei Medici close to Florence. The villa’s guests can enjoy tennis at seven different nearby private courts. There are a plethora of bike trails past historical sights and vineyards ranging from leisurely to challenging. Horseback riding is close to the villa – and lessons for all levels are available. The seaside town of Forte dei Marmi is only a short 25-minute drive and Tuscandream can get you a private beachside cabana at a prime resort such as Twiga.
La Cecca is a famous trattoria only two minutes’ walk from the villa, and there are other closeby gems including the magnificent Cucina dello Scompiglio, and the popular La Bimbotta is a delightful informal place to have a night of pizza and pasta, which is a two-minute drive from the villa. We also would like to mention the fabulous seafood restaurant, Skipper, which is seven minutes from the villa and our personal “hole in the wall” favourite pizza parlor “Ceylon Pizza,” which is only moments away by car. There are several supermarkets nearby – the best of which is Esselunga, a short, five-minute drive from Borgo Bernardini.
Borgo Bernardini is a Tuscan retreat of great charm available for exclusive long and short-term rentals. The estate also serves as the host to both four and six-day Tuscan cooking classes. With luxury guest accommodations in a splendid location, Borgo Bernardini is the perfect place for weddings, family reunions, executive retreats, and special gatherings of family and friends.
Don’t miss visiting the Antiques Market in Lucca during your stay for a unique cultural experience!