Locanda L'Elisa *****

Description

Locanda l’Elisa is a pretty deep lavender coloured villa just a ten minute drive away from the medieval-walled town of Lucca, a 25 minute drive from Pisa Airport and a 45 minute drive from Florence. It was conceived that only a small establishment is able to offer excellent hospitality as well as a warm family atmosphere.

The villa premises were probably restored by a Napoleonic official who came to Lucca together with Elisa Baciocchi, Duchess of the town and sister of Napoleon III. Traces of this original restoration work done in the early 1800’s were still visible in the colours and decorations of the house and under the plaster-work while the villa was under-going renovation which resulted in the actual elegant country-house/hotel completed in 1992. Furniture of the 1800’s, fine antiques and paintings, draperies and walls covered in damask fabrics which derive from “cartoons” preparatory drawing dating from the same period, all help create an extremely elegant residence.

The wooden parts and internal fitting as per the decorations discovered in the area were carried out by specialized artisans. The transformation of the area surrounding the Villa into a flourishing garden full of trees, bushes, flowers, aquatic plants plus a swimming-pool was the most expensive operation of the entire restoration. The rich vegetation and the varied colours of the garden as it is today certainly recompensate the fatigue of the previous garden, after years of being abandoned, only five secular trees remain. The garden is crossed by a babbling brook full of carps and frogs and the irregular shaped swimming-pool blends perfectly into the scenery. Our guests can relax, reed books or have drinks and aperitifs on the “Gazebino” (small Gazebo) situated over the pool.

All the rooms are equipped with every comfort: an independent air conditioning/heating system, Sat TV, radio, IDD phone, modem/PC access, safe box, minibar, hair dryer.
The high quality technical equipment permits the villa to be perfectly air-conditioned. The rooms also have double-doors and are therefore sound-proof.