This Ultra luxury Villa rental in Lucca is redefined by Villa Controni, a spectacular Renaissance era air-conditioned eleven bedroom villa located just a few minutes away from Lucca within walking distance of the charming town of Vorno. Freshly rejuvenated in 2019 with the addition of a new tennis court, the crown jewel of an outstanding estate, surrounded by high-terraced olive groves, cypress trees and 16th Century fountains this aristocratic and lavishly furnished mansion is a place of beauty and elegance. Having recently vacationed at this magnificent villa, the owners of TuscanDream can tell you from experience that Villa Controni is one of the most outstanding luxury vacation rental in Lucca and Italy – and that we wish we never had to leave. A vacation at Villa Controni is an awesome experience that we highly recommend.
Villa Controni has an interesting history. It lies on one of the primary battlefields, Monte Pisano, where the kingdoms of Lucca fought many wars from 1000 to 1400. The villa was built as the summer residence of the Controni family, noble merchants who in 1680 took over what now is the Palazzo Pfanner in the center of Lucca. In 1692 Carlo Controni invited Prince Frederic of Denmark and Norway as a guest while he was visiting Lucca during his Grand Tour of Italy – and a tradition was born – Villa Controni became and continues to this day as, the place of choice for visiting dignitaries and celebrities.
Restored to its original splendor by the fabulous Fanucchi family, Villa Controni is one of the finest mansions we at TuscanDream have ever had the pleasure to stay in! The common rooms are elegantly and beautifully furnished – but at the same time they are extremely comfortable – and the bedrooms are spacious and inviting.
Guests at Villa Controni 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 Eagles, 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 your private beachside cabana at a prime resort such as Twiga. Several fabulous restaurants are within walking distance including the magnificent Cucina dello Scompiglio, and the popular La Bimbotta is a delightful informal place to have a night of pizza and pasta. La Cecca is a famous trattoria only two minutes drive from the villa, and there are other close by gems including the fabulous seafood restaurant, Skipper and our personal “hole in the wall” favourite pizza parlor “Ceylon Pizza” which is only three minutes from the villa. There are several supermarkets nearby – the best of which is Esselunga a short, five minute drive from Villa Controni.
Villa Controni is a truly magnificent and romantic villa and perfect for those who want the finest that life has to offer. The villa is perfect for weddings, family reunions and corporate executive meetings. TuscanDream is proud to represent Villa Controni – and we highly recommend Daniel an outstanding local chef to come and prepare you a gourmet meal at the villa!