Villa Carciofaia

Lucques - Villa

Ten years ago, we celebrated our 40th Anniversary at Villa Carciofaia with family and friends. That was an amazing experience. So we chose to return to the villa for the celebration of our 50th - again with our family and many of our friends. And, despite the adage, we enjoyed a “twice in a lifetime experience”. The villa changed hands since our first visit and has been redecorated and has had some welcome improvements made (all bedrooms now have a private bath). The new owner was a delight and was extremely warm and friendly to us and all of our guests. If you are looking for a great villa in a great location, with great accommodations and amenities, then this is the place for you.

We had the pleasure of the most magnificent stay at the incomparable Villa Carciofaia! The gorgeous interior and spectacular grounds is only second to the hospitality of wonderful Regula, the owner of this very special property. We were a family of 10 adults who had total comfort and space throughout this property—- all of the charm of Tuscany with the most modern of conveniences. We had the pleasure of having Chef Alice prepare a special birthday dinner for our son-in-law, which was truly a highlight… the meal was superb!! We booked Tuscan Drivers in advance for our airport pickup and to a truffle hunt in San Miniato— they were prompt, professional and a delight to work with! We are already missing our Lucca dream come true and trying to plan for a return trip soon!!

It has been a few months since our wonderful stay at Villa Carciofaia but we all still think about it and can't wait to return! Our family had not been together for a couple of years due to COVID and we were so happy to finally to spend a week together in such a lovely home! Regula has created a warm and inviting home away from home. The location is perfect, the views are wonderful and the hospitality is exceptional. We were comfortable from the moment we arrived and certainly did not want to leave when our stay was over. The house was beautifully decorated, the bedrooms were comfortable and perfectly equipped and the outside patio was ideal for meals and relaxing! The pool area was spacious and perfect. The pool was very inviting during the hot days and the shaded areas were the best spots for afternoon naps. We loved our stay at Villa Carciofaia and highly recommend it!

Very clean. Pool was perfect and staff accommodating. Will recommend to friends. Manager helped with lost luggage above and beyond his job description, we appreciated this very much. Molto bene.

This was a return visit so we were prepared for how beautiful the property is and we were not disappointed. We thoroughly enjoyed our stay and look forward to returning in the future.

This is an amazing Villa which easily accommodated 7 adults 3 children and an infant. The owner Senora Regula and Giuseppe the property manager were exceptional and extremely attentive to all of our needs and more importantly could not be nicer people. The pool area was magnificent and we spent a lot of time there relaxing and enjoying the sunsets with cocktails in hand! When we return to Tuscany, Lucca will be where we be and Villa Carciofaia is where we will again stay.

Fabulous villa with an extremely helpful and informative owner, Regula. The setting is gorgeous, not far from Lucca and with a good supermarket close by. The villa is beautifully furnished and had everything, we as a group, could have wished for. A beautiful pool area, lovely outdoor dining area and of quiet places to retreat to. All the bedrooms have their own bathroom and they are all very comfortable. Alice cooked for us twice and she also provided us with some very nice wine. Her meals were fantastic, extremely tasty, generous portions and the quality of her presentation made the meals very special. Infact, we had leftovers from each meal for lunch the next day. She was also very helpful in trying to organise a wine tasting and lunch for us, this was something we wished we'd planned ahead.
As this was our first holiday together since covid we spent much of our time relaxing and catching up. We did go into Lucca on a couple of occasions and had some excellent lunches there. There was plenty to do walking the walls, looking at all the wonderful shops, admiring the architecture, visiting the Churches and an excellent Caravaggio art exhibition. We also visited Forte dei Marmi a very up market seaside resort.
We were sad to leave and wished we'd had more time to explore more of the area. We will return and Villa Carciofaia will be our first choice of accommodation. Many thanks to Regula and Alice for making our post covid reunion so special and successful.

We have just arrived home after a wonderful weeks holiday at Villa Carciofaia - we were blown away by the beauty of this villa and the incredibly kind hospitality of its owner, Regula. The villa is situated on a hillside with the most spectacular views of the surrounding mountains and countryside, whilst conveniently situated a short 10 minute drive from the centre of Lucca. We've been lucky enough to have visited some lovely places but this will probably be remembered as one of our favourites - even the sunbeds around the pool were luxuriously comfortable! Another nice touch was having a concierge, Alice, who cooked for us at the villa one evening (fantastic food, highly recommended!) and also arranged a trip to a local vineyard (a very enjoyable visit). We were genuinely moved by how very welcome we felt and the accommodation was just beautiful - we were very sad to leave. Thank you Regula and Alice, for your incredibly warm welcome and making our holiday one to remember - you helped to create a very special and memorable experience and we hope to return soon. xx

We celebrated out 30th anniversary (Dec. 15th) with family & friends at Villa Carciofaia. Upon arrival, Dec. 12th) we were greeted w/drinks, appetizers and a wonderful tuscan dinner. The villa is something out of a story book-attention to detail in every room! Claudia surprised us w/homemade pastries, cakes and ice cream! Of course, there was plenty of wine! While we were there, we had a pizza party and a chef came in to teach us how to cook a tuscan meal! Never had so much fun in my life-we laughed and sang while preparing our meals! On our last day, Mrs Sonia and her sister Claudia and family presented each family with a duck-their symbol! The next morning we left very early and Sonia and Claudia were there to send us off! Of course, we all had tears in our eyes when saying good-by! Such a beautiful family and memories we'll never forget! This experience will be remembered the rest of our lives!

Before we arrived at Villa Carciofaia, we had a taste of how fabulous it is by browsing Sonia’s gorgeous photos and from Google Street View. But nothing could prepare our group for just how incredible this house and the scenery really are. As returning customers of Mrs Sonia (we rented twothree more times from her) we are getting used to wonders: she has the best villas in Lucca! The house is huge, with an eclectic mix of Tuscan features, modern appliances and fixtures, and exotic artifacts from around the world. There is every luxury and comfort here, including beautiful outdoor spaces and the pool, beautiful dining spots, lovely bathrooms and more. As a group of foodies, we made great use of the gourmet kitchen, picking fresh fruit and vegetables from the garden every day to complement our many trips to the local Esselunga grocery store (which is itself divine). Then there were karaoke nights (complete with speaker, mic and instruments), with my five-year-old as hostess, in the TV room. Great fun! Sonia gave us some terrific insider tips about where to shop, day trips (including excellent directions), restaurants and more. She helped us make the most of our way-too-short week at Villa Carciofaia. Cristina (the cook) and the gracious housekeeper (Mrs Sonia provides an housekeeper everyday which was great) also helped make our stay wonderful, with advice about local activities, keeping the grounds and pool immaculate, making our beds daily and their warmth and friendliness. They all made sure we knew that, truly, Villa Carciofaia was our home for the week. I wish it could have been ours for longer. If you want a luxurious yet comfortable Tuscan villa experience that's great for groups and kids, close to many must-do day trips, and is "secluded" yet minutes from the walled city of Lucca, this is the place. Not just recommended: encouraged! You'll love it.

Words cannot fully describe the experience we had staying at this wonderful home. We were a group of ten friends/family using this as our base for visiting Tuscany, but it turned out to be so much more than that. There were days we did not want to leave Villa La Carciofaia! From the relaxing outdoor spaces to the comfortable interior it felt like home as soon as we arrived.
The villa's location was perfect for us, as it is so convenient to Lucca and Pisa, and it's convenience to the highway made a visit to Cinque TerraFlorence an easy day trip.
We made great use of the outdoor space for everything from eating our meals to relaxing with a glass of wine and a good book. The pizza oven was wonderful fun. The ever helpful Kiko got the fire roaring and we created a dozen pizzas one night!
The views from our rooms were magical and ever changing as clouds swept in and out from neighboring mountains. Various flowering plants and fruits added sweet fragrance to each day.
Many laughs were shared and memories made during our stay.
Our hostess was most gracious and her love of this house was felt by us all and reflected in the attention to the details of the decor. It was truly an enchanting experience to have stayed here and I look forward to one day visiting again. A perfect location for a perfect vacation. Thank you, Mrs Claudia.

We rented the villa for two weeks in August to celebrate our 40th anniversary by hosting a number of family and friends to what we hoped would be a memorable time for all. We were not disappointed! The villa was incredible the view was gorgeous the location was impeccable and the owner, Signora Claudia, was the epitome of hospitality.
The villa is located 2 miles north of Lucca and sits on a hill with a view of a beautiful valley and mountains in the distance. Waking up to those views each morning was worth the price of admission. The villa is spacious (11 people at one time, including a two year old and no one felt crowded) well equipped with a kitchen that we used extensively exceptionally furnished with interesting and tasteful pieces and decorated with works of art that reflect the owner's worldly and eclectic tastes. A vine covered veranda stretches the width of the villa with room for lounging, dining, chatting, reading,just taking in the beautiful view. We spent virtually all of our time here, from early breakfasts to dinners by the light of candles lit each evening by the housekeeper. And then there was Kiko who looked after anything and everything that needed attention. His wonderful smile and warm, friendly personality won all of our hearts - even that of our 2 year old granddaughter who named her doll after him.
Lucca itself is an incredible walled town with lots to see and do and can be reached by car in 5 minutes. It is conveniently located for halffull day driving trips to many Tuscan attractions - 30 minutes to Pisa, 90 minutes to Firenze, 2 hours to Siena and San Gimignano. For longer trips to Cinque Terre, Venice, Rome, Verona, Lucca has a train station that makes it easy to get just about anywhere in Italy.
We have been to Tuscany several times but this experience was second to none. We would love to return again someday. One of the primary reasons is the hospitality and personal attention afforded to us by Signora Claudia, the owner - a beautiful woman with an amazing personality who made us feel most welcome and comfortable from the moment we arrived. She visited us often (but not often enough!) prepared us a memorable evening meal on the veranda hosted us to champagne and dessert in her personal home and made us feel that we were friends and guests - not just renters. Quite a lady!
If you are looking at villas in Tuscany, forget any others. This place is paradise. Don't pass it up!

We stayed in Carciofaia for 2 weeks for my wife’s 60th birthday celebrations. We had our 4 sons, their wives and 2 baby grandchildren with us. We can only say that we had a magnificent time. We have stayed in villas in Italy before but must say that Carciofaia is the best. It was very spacious and very stylish. All the bedrooms had ensuite facilities, the pool was just the right size for a large group, the views were magnificent and the location was great – only a few kilometres from Lucca.
The owner, Mrs Edelman, lived next door and is a lovely lady who was always on hand to give us advice and provide any help we needed. Pablo and Mabel, who live in a house on site, look after the house and make sure everything is perfect for the guests. Pablo would also fire up the BBQ when we wanted one.
On my wife’s birthday, we arranged a chef, Alice, through Homeaway and Alice cooked a wonderful 3 course meal (including a birthday cake for my wife!!), provided Prosecco and lovely wines to make the evening very special – a birthday dinner never to be forgotten.
We cannot recommend Carciofaia highly enough and we shall definitely stay there again in the future.

We have just returned home from a wonderful stay at Villa La Carciofaia, the beautiful home of Signora Claudia. She is a lovely hostess and made our stay very special. Her attention to detail is evident in every beautiful room. Our bedrooms were spacious and the bathrooms modern. We were there with our three grown children and their spouses and there was plenty of room for everyone to gather. The pool is just beautiful and was the gathering place in the late afternoons after full days of sightseeing, wine tasting and exploring Lucca. We had Signora Cristina come to the house and cook dinner one night and it was beyond wonderful, from the first course to the last. She also brought local wines, very fun to know that the wines were from the area. The covered back patio was our favorite spot to eat, drink wine and play cards. We had all meals outside, the view from the porch was just amazing. The beautiful flowers were beyond anything we have in Texas including, the vineyard, hydrangeas, gardenias and herb gardens. We hope to get back to Lucca some day, and this fabulous villa would be our first choice.

After a long tiring day of travel we arrived at this beautiful villa overlooking the Tuscan hills. The smells of the oleander, the constant singing of the birds, the seduction of a beautiful pool and the beautiful summer breeze only added to the luxury we felt wrap itself around us. The biggest downfall of this setting was having to leave to go sightseeing. We arranged to have an entertaining 4 hour cooking class nearby and this is highly recommended. We splurged and had a dinner party catered along with music provided by a local guitarist- a wonderful idea! Very often we heard sighs echo around us, but these were not sighs of tensionaggravation BUT the sighs of contentment, refreshment and rejuvenation. When you hear that on your vacation, you know you have made a wise choice. Villa Carciofaia is such a choice and Sonia and the on-site staff were there to cater to your whims. Wonderful vacation!

After a long tiring day of travel we arrived at this beautiful villa overlooking the Tuscan hills. The smells of the oleander, the constant singing of the birds, the seduction of a beautiful pool and the beautiful summer breeze only added to the luxury we felt wrap itself around us. The biggest downfall of this setting was having to leave to go sightseeing. We arranged to have an entertaining 4 hour cooking class nearby and this is highly recommended. We splurged and had a dinner party catered along with music provided by a local guitarist- a wonderful idea! Very often we heard sighs echo around us, but these were not sighs of tensionaggravation BUT the sighs of contentment, refreshment and rejuvenation. When you hear that on your vacation, you know you have made a wise choice. Villa Carciofaia is such a choice and Sonia and the on-site staff were there to cater to your whims. Wonderful vacation!

What more can I say?? This was a real LUXURY home from home, with luxury beach towels and beach pillows supplied - saving on luggage allowance. Washing machine saved the usual return from holiday dread! Mrs Sonia provided lots of hints before we went, which was useful
Mrs Sonia and Mrs Claudia (her sister!), both really helpful whilst we were on holiday. Ahmid our housekeeper taxied my teenage son & his friend to the water park for a small fee.
City centre approx 5 mins by car & bars/restaurants approx 5/10 mins walk. Local supermaket really well stocked & not expensive (not the usual holiday maker rip off!) Used by the locals so very good.
If you are looking for a lively holiday, this is not for you. We wanted 2 weeks of sun, sea & rest & that's exactley what we had. We were so impressed, we are looking at booking again next year & we have never been back to the same place before!!!

We arranged a vacation to the villa for ourselves and four other couples. After several days in Rome we headed to Lucca and "our" villa. The drive up to the villa only enhanced our excitment. Once there, we recieved outstanding personal service.... Sonia and Claudia welcomed us when we arrived at the villa and helped us get comfortable. they returned the next morning with breakfast and provided us with the colorful history of the villa and surrounding area. We all felt like we had made a lasting friendship. Claudia also provided many tips about travel in the area. We were given cell phones (to use), train information, maps, restaurant recommendations, along with tons of tidbits that were very helpful. The villa itself is everything you imagine a tuscan villa should be. It has a great history and authenticity along with all the comforts travelers love. (especially Americans) Every room in this home is warm and inviting with a spectacular view! On the practical side the bathrooms and kitchen are well appointed. Each of these rooms with its own sense to style and comfort. By far my favorite place is the outdoor dining area directly off the kitchen. Beautiful flowers accent the dining area and continue through out the property. The view from this area is unsurpassed except maybe by the view from the pool! The elegant pool is a welcome place after a day of site seeingto spend the entire day. Next to the pool is a great covered patio and a view that is intoxicating all amoungest the olive trees! This was my third trip to Italy and my husbands second. We love Italy and all the place we have visited. The Villa Carciofaia by far remains our favorite. I can't think of a thing we were unhappy with except that we are not there now!