Entire home

The True Paradise In Tuscany - Villa del Cardinale

Photo gallery for The True Paradise In Tuscany - Villa del Cardinale

The true Paradise in Tuscany.
Pool area by night, Lucca in the background - just 5 min. drive away
Pool
Property grounds
Exterior

Reviews

9.8 out of 10
Exceptional
6 bedrooms5 bathroomsSleeps 123767.4 sq ft

Popular amenities

  • Hot tub
  • Dryer
  • Fireplace
  • Washer
  • Kitchen

Explore the area

Map
Lucca, Toscana
  • Walls of Lucca
    ‪8 min drive‬
  • Piazza Napoleone
    ‪10 min drive‬
  • Guinigi Tower
    ‪12 min drive‬
  • Lucca (LCV)
    ‪19 min drive‬

Rooms & beds

6 bedrooms (sleeps 12)

Bedroom 1

2 Single Beds

Bedroom 2

1 King Bed

Bedroom 3

1 King Bed

Bedroom 4

1 King Bed

Bedroom 5

1 Queen Bed

Bedroom 6

1 Double Futon

5 bathrooms

Bathroom 1

Soap · Towels provided · Bathtub · Bidet · Toilet · Shower only · Shampoo · Hair dryer

Bathroom 2

Soap · Towels provided · Bidet · Toilet · Shower only · Shampoo · Hair dryer

Bathroom 3

Soap · Towels provided · Bathtub · Bidet · Toilet · Shower only · Shampoo · Hair dryer

Bathroom 4

Soap · Towels provided · Bidet · Toilet · Shower only · Shampoo · Hair dryer

Bathroom 5

Soap · Towels provided · Bidet · Toilet · Shower only · Shampoo · Hair dryer

Spaces

Deck or patio
Porch or lanai
Kitchen
Separate dining area
Outdoor play area
Garden
Dining area

About this property

The True Paradise In Tuscany - Villa del Cardinale

Beautiful villa from the 1600 renovated with high level of beauty and comfort. Originally, the villa was built by the famous Cardinal Francesco Bonvisi as his private study and meditation retreat. The property offers a gorgeous view over the Lucca valley and yet is located just 5 minutes' drive from the walls of Lucca and 20 minutes from the airport of Pisa. Firenze (Florence) is only 45 minutes away by car. The estate is surrounded by 16 acres of olive trees and boasts 5 large bedrooms with en-suite bathroom, heated swimming pool, Patio for al fresco dining. One of the bedrooms has a suite with sofa where two young persons can sleep, thus providing accommodation for 12 persons in all. Air conditioning in all rooms. Furthermore, we provide a baby bed and chair.

Our key holder will enthusiastically assist you in organizing an unforgettable stay, with wine tasting experience, or help you find a Tourist guide, or guide you to the most exclusive and exciting shopping. We have two amazingly clever Chefs de Cuisine that you can book for in-house dining or other important culinary experiences.

In the nearest neighborhood there are two hotels that can accommodate larger groups.

Property manager

Fabio Manzetti

Languages

English, Italian, Norwegian, Swedish
Lock

Protect your payment — always book on Vrbo

If someone asks you to book through them or pay them directly before you book on Vrbo, report it.

Add dates for prices

Amenities

Pool
Hot tub
Kitchen
Washer
Dryer
Free WiFi

Have a question?

AI iconBeta

Get instant answers with AI powered search of property information and reviews.

Similar properties

House Rules

Check in after 4:00 PM
Minimum age to rent: 24
Check out before 10:00 AM
default

Children

Children allowed: ages 0–17
default

Events

No events allowed
default

Pets

No pets allowed
default

Smoking

Smoking is not permitted
Respect check-out rules, e.g. do not just leave without having gone through the check-out procedure with the key-holder
Late check-in, i.e. from 7pm implies an extra charge of €50 to be paid directly to the key-holder.

Important information

You need to know

This property is managed by a private host (a party not acting within their trade, business or profession). EU consumer law, including the right of withdrawal, will not apply to your booking. The cancellation policy set by the private host will cover your booking.
Extra-person charges may apply and vary depending on property policy
Government-issued photo identification and a credit card, debit card or cash deposit may be required at check-in for incidental charges
Special requests are subject to availability upon check-in and may incur additional charges; special requests cannot be guaranteed
This property accepts cash
On-site parties or group events are strictly prohibited
Host has not indicated whether there is a carbon monoxide detector on the property; consider bringing a portable detector with you on the trip
Host has not indicated whether there is a smoke detector on the property
Safety features at this property include a fire extinguisher and a first aid kit
Property Registration Number IT046017C2OPW5IKFM

We should mention

All guests, including children, must be present at check-in and show their government-issued photo ID card or passport
Cash transactions at this property cannot exceed USD 5000, due to national regulations; for further details, please contact the property using the information in the booking confirmation
A car is recommended for transport to and from this property

About the area

Lucca

Located in Lucca, this villa is in a rural area. The area's natural beauty can be seen at Monte Castellare and Oak Tree of Pinocchio, while Museum of Comics and Imagery and Teatro del Giglio are cultural highlights. Travelling with kids? Consider Puccini Museum, or check out an event or a game at Arena Garibaldi. Discover the area's water adventures with nearby sailing, or enjoy the great outdoors with hunting, hiking/biking trails and cycling.
Map
Lucca, Toscana

What's nearby

  • Walls of Lucca - 8 min drive - 5.2 km
  • Piazza Napoleone - 10 min drive - 6.3 km
  • Cathedral of St Martin - 11 min drive - 7.1 km
  • Guinigi Tower - 12 min drive - 7.5 km
  • Piazza dell'Anfiteatro - 12 min drive - 7.8 km

Getting around

  • Lucca Station - 9 min drive
  • Pisa (PSA-Galileo Galilei) - 24 min drive

Restaurants

  • ‪Pizzeria Zio Jo - ‬5 min drive
  • ‪Hotel Villa Cheli - ‬6 min walk
  • ‪Pasticceria Bar Sottopoggio - ‬7 min drive
  • ‪Pizzeria Irma - ‬7 min drive
  • ‪Cucina dello Scompiglio - ‬6 min drive

Frequently asked questions

Does The True Paradise In Tuscany - Villa del Cardinale have a pool?

Yes, this property has an outdoor pool. Pool types include heated pools.

Is The True Paradise In Tuscany - Villa del Cardinale pet-friendly?

No, pets are not allowed at this property.

What time is check-in at The True Paradise In Tuscany - Villa del Cardinale?

Check-in begins at 4:00 PM.

What time is check-out at The True Paradise In Tuscany - Villa del Cardinale?

Checkout is at 10:00 AM.

Where is The True Paradise In Tuscany - Villa del Cardinale located?

This family-friendly Lucca villa is located in a rural location, within 3 mi (5 km) of International Academy of Italian Cuisine and Lucca Polo Fiere. Puccini Museum and Lucca Botanical Gardens are also within 6 miles (10 km).

Reviews

9.8

Exceptional

Reviews are presented in chronological order, subject to a moderation process, and verified unless otherwise labelled.
Learn moreOpens in a new window
Rating 10 - Excellent. 41 out of 45 reviews
Rating 8 - Good. 3 out of 45 reviews
Rating 6 - Okay. 1 out of 45 reviews
Rating 4 - Poor. 0 out of 45 reviews
Rating 2 - Terrible. 0 out of 45 reviews

9.8/10

Cleanliness

9.8/10

Check-in

10/10

Communication

9.8/10

Location

9.8/10

Listing accuracy

Reviews

10/10 Excellent

Philip J.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Good villa, good location

Comfortable and well equipped though you have to hunt for things sometimes. Excellent pool, beds and living areas. Mosquito spray essential in August!
Stayed 7 nights in Jul 2023

10/10 Excellent

JIM O'HARA

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Very beautiful place

The most homely beautiful villa to experience Tuscan life, and a special word of thanks and appreciation to Beatrice who saw to all our needs, will return, thank you
Stayed 6 nights in Jul 2019

10/10 Excellent

Nicola N.

A little bit of Tuscan magic...

For our family holiday with grownup sons and partners, this villa was just perfect. With all the bedrooms being generously sized and all with en-suites, everyone was happy. The sitting room is very comfortable and the kitchen very well stocked. We loved all the outside areas, especially the pool area and the stunning views over Lucca. We were warmly welcomed and well looked after by Aurora and Maria. This villa is well placed for days out visiting the region and we were equally comfortable spending the day around the pool having stocked up with supplies from the nearby grocery store. A visit to the bakery and gelato shop at the bottom of the track is highly recommended! With a marriage proposal, this holiday was very special and will always be remembered.
Stayed 7 nights in Jul 2018

10/10 Excellent

Kjell Roland H.

Beautiful house in quiet surroundings with a fantastic view. A true paradise in Tuscany.

We - grandparents, children and grandchildren - 10 persons all together loved the house from first sight. We were warmly welcommed by Aurora and went to our beautifully furnished rooms with very comfortable beds and well equipped bathrooms. Everybody enjoyed the swimmingpool from the babygirl to the mature grandparents.
Stayed 7 nights in Jul 2018

10/10 Excellent

Inese M.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Beautiful Tuscany

What a beautiful spot! The perfect house for our family celebrating a special anniversary. The bedrooms allowed each couple to have privacy. The views were stunning. The photos on the website don’t do it justice! We took full advantage of the personal chefs recommended by the house information book. Wow! Best meals ever! The only thing is, you really do need to have a car. Lucca is almost an hour walk on a busy road with limited sidewalks,and the walk back is obviously uphill all the way. Definitely recommend this villa for a group stay.
Stayed 7 nights in Aug 2024

10/10 Excellent

Tom T.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

A great weekend in Toscany

We had a great holiday in the lovely Villa Cardinale. We celebrated our 50 years marriage by spending a week in Tuscany with our 2 children and their families, 10 persons in all. Villa Cardinale is a charming and wellequiped House with 5 bedrooms and 5 en suite bathrooms. The 6th bedroom is a Walk-trough room with sleeping possibilities. 1 bed- and bathroom is in an Annex, which our teenager grandchild loved. The pool area is fantastic, Also for children. Also the outdoor eating place was great and we used it every day. We Will mention, that there are Many steps in the House, and that our 3 cars fully filled the parking place near the House. However, there is an Extra parking possibility by the lover gate. Finally, there is a god instruktion book in the House with very valuable recommandations om restaurants, shopping etc.
Stayed 7 nights in Jun 2024

10/10 Excellent

Steve F.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Paradise in Tuscany

The property exceeded expectations! The villa is charming, a wonderful combination of old and new. It has been renovated to excellent modern standards with respect to appliances and facilities, without losing its old-world charm. There is ample and excellent help. The owner Fabio was completely accessible by phone or email, and was always helpful. The proximity to Lucca, a charming walled city, and to the rest of Tuscany, made wider visiting east. We had a wonderful stay.
Stayed 28 nights in Aug 2023

10/10 Excellent

Isolde B., Stuttgart

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Toll

Wir waren mit 10 Personen (Erwachsene und Teenager) eine Woche in der Villa und haben den Auftenthalt sehr genossen. Alle fünf großen Schlafzimmer haben sehr gute Betten. Auch das Zimmer neben dem Esszimmer hat ein richtiges Doppelbett (kein graues Schlafsofa wie auf den Fotos). Das Zimmer im Nebengebäude ist etwas dunkel, aber ok. Besonders toll fanden wir die verschiedenen Sitzmöglichkeiten rund um Haus und Pool. Die Küche ist gut ausgestattet und groß genug. Danke an Vivian und ihr Team!
Stayed 7 nights in Aug 2023

8/10 Good

Steven E.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Great View and En-suites for Bedrooms

A well maintained property on a lovely hill. The rooms were large, with each having a bathroom. The area around the pool was great. Wished the sun was able to heat the pool enough to enjoy, but it was too cold. The two items that were slight negatives, but we aware about when booking, was the stairs and the road up to the property. The stairs were steep and the bottom two steps were sloped forward and required caution when coming down. The road to the property had some very large pot holes. But overall, a beautiful place and very relaxing site.
Stayed 7 nights in May 2023

8/10 Good

Jonas R.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Good week in Tuscany

Good house. Excellent service by Beatrice who always was very helpful and available.
Stayed 7 nights in Sep 2022

10/10 Excellent

Jesper R.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Et skønt hus med prima beliggenhed

Vi var en familie med 6 voksne og 3 børn, og huset passede perfekt til vores ønsker og behov og med en beliggenhed tæt på Lucca, en af Toscanas smukkeste og mest velbevarede byer. Den lokale kontaktperson var yderst hjælpsom og imødekommende. Alt i alt et meget vellykket og mindeværdigt ophold.
Stayed 7 nights in Aug 2022

10/10 Excellent

veronique S.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Merveilleuses vacances en famille

Nous avons passé un séjour formidable en famille dans cette magnifique demeure au charme ancien et typique de la Toscane. Le confort est excellent avec des literies de très bonne qualité, la climatisation et une salle de bain dans chaque chambre. Les vues sont à couper le souffle, les différentes terrasses qui entourent la villa et les plantations d’Olivier nous ont plongé dans une nature exceptionnelle. Enfin, les propriétaires et le personnel étaient très à l’écoute et arrangeants. Nous recommandons vivement !
Stayed 7 nights in Aug 2022

10/10 Excellent

caroline s.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Belle semaine en famille

La maison est très confortable pour passer des vacances en groupe, chacun peut y avoir son espace. Le point de vue est magnifique, la maison bien décorée. Béatrice est là pour nous accompagner tout le long du séjour. La maison est proche de Lucques ce qui est sympathique pour les sorties et les courses. Nous avons passé une excellente semaine.
Stayed 7 nights in Aug 2022

10/10 Excellent

Diane T.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

SUPERBES VACANCES EN TOSCANE

La residence est très confortable pour 9 personnes. nous avons particulièrement apprécié la piscine.
Stayed 7 nights in Jul 2022

10/10 Excellent

Daniel E.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Wonderful Stay

Visited Villa della Cardinale with my family and another; 10 people total. The Villa had more than enough space as our kids were able to room together easily. Beautiful property with a stunning view over Lucca. Fabio and Beatrice were both very responsive and easy to work with. Our families had an amazing time and loved the ease of seeing much of Tuscany from our home base. The Villa is very well positioned for day trips. Air conditioning and the swimming pool were great on the warmer June days. La Pearla, a coffee shop and pasticceria at the bottom of the street is a hidden gem as well!
Stayed 42 nights in Jun 2022

10/10 Excellent

Tommy B.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Fantastiskt

Uppfyllde våra förväntningar Fantastiskt hus och trädgård med pool
Stayed 7 nights in Sep 2021

10/10 Excellent

Jürgen B.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Phänomenal

Die Lage der Villa ist wirklich außerordentlich. Absolut ruhig gelegen schaut man ins Tal und die herrliche Landschaft der Toskana. Die Villa hat viel Charme. Von der Villa aus erreicht man in wenigen Minuten Lucca und auch Pisa ist praktisch um die Ecke. Beatrice war immer für uns zur Stelle und hatte immer Antworten auf unsere Fragen ( wo gibt es schöne Strände, welche Sehenswürdigkeiten usw. ). Wir waren begeistert und würden die Villa jederzeit wieder buchen. Jürgen Bartmann
Stayed 7 nights in Aug 2021

10/10 Excellent

DE LA SERRE M.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Très bel environnement !

Nous avons passé un merveilleux séjour. La maison est une ancienne bâtisse. Parfait pour les amoureux de l’ancien. Le cadre est fabuleux. Beatrice est d’une très grande efficacité et d’une super gentillesse ! C’est un véritable plus pour le séjour ! Nous étions 2 familles avec 8 enfants au total. Il nous a manqué un peu de place dans la cuisine (pour ranger nos affaires) et des grands plats.
Stayed 7 nights in Aug 2021

10/10 Excellent

Julia B.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Beautiful Setting for a family holiday

First of all I would like to thank Beatrice for being absolutely beyond amazing with making sure everything was perfect during our stay. The property is located a mere 10 min drive from Lucca and close to the motorway which is convenient for excursions and day trips to Pisa, Florence, Volterra etc . Lots of space in and outdoors and a lovely pool are a beautiful setting for a tranquil holiday. Thank you very much for a great stay
Stayed 7 nights in Jul 2021

10/10 Excellent

Christian S.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

wonderful stay near Lucca

We enjoyed one week of holiday in Villa Cardinale. The villa was very clean when we arrived. The pictures on the website give a good view of what to expect, although it is even more beautiful in reality. The view from the hill is spectacular. Beatrice, the lady coordinating the maintenance of the villa, was very helpful and gave us a lot of advice and help with selecting and booking restaurants and places to visit. We had the private diner prepared by Maria twice during the week, this is highly recommended! To summarize: we had a wonderful stay with our family.
Stayed 7 nights in Jul 2021

10/10 Excellent

Nicola S.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Simply Perfect!

We spent two weeks at Villa Cardinale and had a wonderful time all the way through! The house, the interior, the location but most of all Fabio, Beatrice, Martina and Isabell were fantastic! Questions were always answered promptly and always with a smile! Tuscany is one of the nicest regions in the world but in combination with this property, with all the amenities it offers and the people who care for it and it’s guests a holy place to be! Warm Thanks to all for this too short „escape to heaven“! Nicola & Family & Friends
Stayed 14 nights in Aug 2019

10/10 Excellent

veronique S.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

magnifiques vacances dans un magnifique endroit !

Nous avons de nouveau passé un très agréable séjour dans cette belle et grande maison de famille, décorée avec goût et très confortable. La literie est excellente et l’ensemble de la villa invite au bien être. Nous reviendrons !
Stayed 14 nights in Jul 2019

10/10 Excellent

Beth W., San Antonio

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Fabulous villa with views

It was everything I was looking for my 50th birthday celebration. Plenty of room for entertaining guests. A true Tuscan experience. Lucca is minutes away and a true delight. Enjoyed getting to know the community. The property manager and staff were incredibly helpful in getting to know the area and the owner was a fabulous host. We enjoyed the locally produced olive oil tremendously. We will come again!
Stayed 29 nights in Jun 2019

10/10 Excellent

WILLIAM Y., Columbia, South Carolina, USA

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Paradise overlooking Lucca

Three married couples spent 7 nights at this wonderful home. It was so tranquil and quiet we all fell in love with the location. The sunrises in the morning, the singing birds, the cool breezes, the great gardens, the comforts of home away, - all made this villa a place that we hope to return to someday. There are three floors in the Villa. The kitchen, separate dining, and a small office/bedroom with full bath on the ground floor. The living room and a master bedroom with large bathroom is on the next floor. The top floor has a large bedroom with small bathroom (shower only). The other bedroom on top floor is smaller, but has a sitting room, and larger bath with tub. There is a separate building (the annex) with a 5th bedroom and large bathroom. The clothes washer and dryer are also in the annex. The building location is high on a hill, which resulted in pleasant breezes most days. We could see the buildings in old Lucca as well as the aqueduct that runs across the valley. This Villa is the highest home on the hill – so there is absolute privacy. We never ate in the dining room as the weather was so nice – there is a table for 10 located outside under a freestanding roof. Additionally there was three other areas outside to sit (patio outside kitchen; table for 6 under olive trees; Cabana next to pool) which meant there was always somewhere in shade or sun to relax. Maria came one night to serve a wonderful home cook Tuscan style meal. The left overs were great the next day as well. The beds were very comfortable, water pressure is good, and everything in kitchen was functional and well stocked with every dish you need. Given it is an old building – there are quirky things such as un-level floors, a low kitchen doorway (watch your head), and minimal electrical outlets, it is very well done from the perspective of plumbing and kitchen appliances. We had rented a large Fiat Talento van (9 passenger). Driving up the road to the Villa meant brushing up against the olive trees along the road. Also the parking area at the Villa required some back and forth to turnaround the large van – small car would be ok. Can’t imagine not having a vehicle – while close to Lucca – it is not walkable. With Lucca 5 minutes away we frequently went there for meals. We drove to LaSpezia (1 hour) to see Cinque Terre via train. Florence is only an hour away (park at Villa Costanza parking on autostrada and take Tram into town) and Pisa is only 20 minutes
Stayed 7 nights in Jun 2019

6/10 Okay

john s.

The property has a great valley view and nice landscape. The house is outdated and far from village.

There are many highlights of our experience: - Aurora and Maria were terrific. From their kind and thoughtful service to the great food prepared for meals at the villa - they are simply superb! - the grounds are very pretty from the view of the valley to the beautiful olive trees, a nice pool area and relaxing outdoor dining table - all made time spent outside very enjoyable. There are a couple of important aspects of the experience that were disappointing: - the villa was much more remote to the village than we thought. It was more than an hour walk and it was across some busy streets. We also could not get taxis to navigate the gravel sections of the access roads. We ended up using Lucca limo - who were great - and it ended up adding significant expense and planning each day we went. - the villa itself has great potential. Our biggest issue is that kitchen was outdated and very small. The refrigerator, stove, coffee maker and toaster were very old and the space to work in limited to 2-3 people. There were also a lot of ants on the counters and sink. The wifi didn't work the first three days. The bathrooms had some updating done but with our group having some large people - up to 6'5" tall - some showers and toilets were hard to use. I offer these inputs only to help make future experiences better. We appreciate Fabio and Mari's hospitality and Aurora and Maria's wonderful service.
Stayed 7 nights in Sep 2018

About the host

Hosted by Fabio Manzetti

Host profile image
Fabio and his wife Mari live partly in Norway (where they are resident) and partly at the Villa del Cardinale. Fabio is a business advisor, coach and mentor; together with his wife he also started "Paradiseintuscany" - an initiative to help Non-Italians to buy a residential property in Tuscany, without experiencing the hassle that Italian laws and business practice often imply.

Why they chose this property

Fabio is originally from this area - born in Pisa, lived in Lucca before moving to Norway over 30 years ago. For Fabio, buying this property has meant coming back home.

What makes this property unique

Fabio and his wife fell in love with Villa del Cardinale both because of the location - with stunning views - and because of the energy and harmony that this place emanate. One really feels why the Cardinal Buonvisi built this house as his meditation and retreat haven.

In March 2022 Kristian and Kjerstin joined Fabio and Mari in the ownership and management of this amazing property. Also Kristian and Kjerstin live in Norway, are both physicians based in Bergen and good friends of Fabio and Mari.

Languages:

English, Italian, Norwegian, Swedish