Reviews
Tuscany
"we loved nothing better than the local sausage, cheese and wine on the shady terrace admiring the stunning view"
Date of Stay: January 2015, from Isaac, Canada
Both the description and photos understate this villa: the views are absolutely stunning. This, along with the quality of the restoration (including hi-speed internet, satellite TV and air-con, not that there was any need to use it!) is what will long stay in my memory. Sumptuous bedrooms (all en-suite) and an amazing beamed living room exceeded all expectations.
The owner told me that they welcome pets of all kinds: apparently two large dogs stayed with some recent guests and the cats didn’t mind at all!
A winter visit has its advantages (no tourist queues, evenings cuddled up by the fire (and floors warmed by under-floor heating, etc), but a pity not to have tried the large infinity pool, with views to the Leaning Tower of Pisa.
In summary, unbelievably wonderful views, well-restored villa and good service from the owners and their local team. I’d like to come back in the summer.
Date of Stay: September 2012, from Mandy, Australia
Four weeks in Italy…..! The idea was to find a beautiful place, settle in, shop locally, cook, eat, drink and relax. The cat, Mr ‘Negroni’, was centre stage and yes we spoilt him rotten. We ate locally at Lombardo’s on more than a few occasions, visited Florence three times, San Gimignano, Siena, Volterra – all wonderful. Pisa, which no-one seemed to fussed about, was a great visit too – twice! The pool, the woods, the olives – va bene or va bene?! So did we have a fantastic holiday? You bet…!
Date of Stay: April, 2012, from Rosey, UK
We recently spent an incredibly pleasurable week at Villa Macario, close to Lucca. This beautiful Tuscan farmhouse is ideally placed for everything you might wish to do whilst on holiday, be it culture, beaches, shopping, sport, or relaxing in a spa! During our stay there we went to Florence, Pisa, Siena, Forte dei Marmi (miles of golden sand), Lucca and also found time to visit the lovely spa at Bagni di Lucca. Had we had more time, we could have gone riding, played golf (William, the owner has a great knowledge of the surrounding courses) or done one of the many walks immediately available in the beautiful countryside on our front doorstep! The accommodation was great - so nice that each bedroom had its own private facilities and no matter which window you looked out of there was a great view.
The sitting room was spacious, airy and comfortable with a large supply of DVD’s (should you have time to watch them). There was a choice of 3 patios for outdoor eating, the largest being accessible from the main kitchen, which was well equipped with all mod cons - we made good use of the ice cream making machine whilst we were there! On one evening, we chose to take advantage of the services of their chef (available by arrangement) and the meal was a sumptuous experience of local fare!
In the daytime it was very hot for the time of year and we picked up a nice tan by the pool, but in the evenings we chose to light a fire in the large fireplace in the living room. We all agreed that it might be nice to return in the winter, when the landscape would be different and perhaps even make it a sporting holiday with a bit of tennis (in one of the many clubs round Lucca), golf and skiing for good measure.
"it might be nice to return in the winter... the landscape would be different... perhaps even a sporting holiday... tennis... golf... skiing"
"exquisite evenings of culinary decadence"
"Villa, furnishings and help were all first class"
"We will certainly be returning!"
Regarding the booking of the holiday, it was seamless and straightforward and we were emailed a comprehensive guest information pack prior to our stay which told us everything we needed to know (and lots more). There was a good choice of flights to Pisa at very reasonable prices and we picked up our hire car at the airport to complete the short journey to the villa. The one thing that stays in my mind is the beautiful panoramic view one has from there and I often revisit that view in my mind as well as all the other fabulous experiences we enjoyed during our stay. We will certainly be returning!
Date of Stay: July 2011, From Gerald, South Africa
Lucca has to be the most perfect base for exploring Northern Tuscany and there is nowhere better to do it from than this villa. Perfect accommodation - 4 parents 4 teenagers AND Grandma all very happy. Day trips to the beach, Pisa, Volterra, San G and Florence were a breeze. Gorgeous local restaurants though to be honest we loved nothing better than the local sausage, cheese and wine on the shady terrace admiring the stunning view. William's information pack is nothing short of extraordinary and he bent over backwards to help us when our car broke down! We had a truly memorable holiday.
Date of Stay: September 2011, from John, USA
Villa Macario, with its terraced hillside gardens, shimmering olive grove, and flower-laden dining arbor, looks over Lucca & Pisa in the valley below. The decor of the villa is authentically Tuscan and welcoming: spacious rooms, a fully-equipped kitchen, lovely dining and living rooms. Each bedroom suite is comfortable, well furnished, and private. Clean, well kept - as beautiful as the photographs depict inside and out - perhaps even more so. The owner is very generous in providing information and accommodating guest requests. The rental process is well organized and documented, clear and concise. Extensive information about the local area, markets/purveyors, insights on dining, shopping, larger cities, and a library of travel books and guides are provided by the owner. Luccan wine and olive oil are made readily available. The chef services are highly recommended - we enjoyed two exquisite evenings of culinary decadence! The camaraderie and warmth of each of the property staff was particularly noteworthy. For four couples seeing Tuscany for the first time, the location was well suited to exploring - Viareggio, Portovenere, Florence, Lucca and even the Cinque Terre (with an early morning start). Tempted by the solitude, two of our days were spent hiking on the property and surrounding hills, lounging by the pool, and marveling at beautiful sunsets and cloudy mists drifting in and out of the valley. Yes, the villa is high above the village, but whatever you might need is a very short drive away. Our search was long and exhaustive for the perfect, 'all-criteria satisfied' rental property: price, 4 king beds, en-suite baths, decor, pool, outdoor dining, location, driving distance to cities and the coast, chef services. Il Fienile was chosen over three dozen others. We are delighted with our choice. One week is not long enough!
Date of Stay: September 2011, from Gerald, California
We had a wonderful week with friends at Villa Macario in the Tuscany hill country. William arranged a lovely dinner for the eight of us and he also arranged some very good weather. The villa, the furnishings and the help were all first class. It does take a bit of exploring to find the villa, but once there it is delightful.
Date of Stay: July 2009, from Robert, UK
There can be no more wonderful way to start each day than to wander out on to the lovely terrace here, breathing in the herb-scented air as you savour the breathtaking view over the valley below; and few more memorable ways to end the day than to have dinner on the terrace while the sun sinks behind the mountains and the lights of Pisa twinkle far below. But it is not only the spectacular scenery that surrounds that makes it so special. Equally memorable is the villa itself, which has been elegantly converted, using a wonderful synthesis of traditional Tuscan materials and modern luxury. It offered everything we could ask for in terms of comfort. The very well equipped kitchen is spacious and the bedrooms beautifully furnished, ith excellent en-suite facilities. The large living room, with its comfortable furniture and inviting fireplace, huge library of DVDs, CDs, books and games, is an inviting place to relax. We found everything in excellent condition, spotlessly clean and well cared for, and the attention to detail was superb. There is plenty of living and storage space, and the stone floors and marble fittings made the house refreshingly cool, without having to use the air conditioning, on even the hottest July days. The additional bunk bedrooms, whilst sparsely furnished, serve well for teenagers or unexpected guests. High on the list of [Villa Macario]’s many attractive features is the infinity pool. Set in an attractive rock garden on the highest terrace, it is idyllic. It is tempting to spend the entire day here, floating in the warm water and simply gazing at the spectacular views. For rustic peace we also lazed under the oak tree or in the newly-planted orchard, shaded by olives. Our taste buds would love to return for the olive harvest weeks in November, or asparagus weeks in the Spring... Our stay here was made all the more perfect by the friendliness and helpfulness of the house’s manager, who was welcoming and always happy to answer any questions, and his staff. The booking and billing is handled by Arnie in the UK [Arnie has since retired, succeeded by Celine, Ed.], and again everything worked like clockwork, without any disappointment. Many interesting and beautiful places lie within easy reach, but we loved the villa and grounds so much that we hardly wanted to go anywhere else (well, no further than the local butcher’s unbelievable restaurant). Our stay could have been improved only by being longer.
Date of Stay: June 2009, from Laura, UK
We have just returned from a week at Villa Macario. The home is wonderful, comfortable and well appointed, but what makes this place really special is the incredible setting. The landscaped gardens alone are fantastic but add it to the postcard perfect views of Pisa and Lucca and it is nothing short of spectacular. We loved sitting on the terraces with our antipasti and wine and marvelling at our surroundings. The pool has the best views on the property and our party spent many hours in it--our favorite times being after dark with the lovely pool lighting and twinkling cities down below. The children also enjoyed hiking around the property, followed by the most dog-like of cats, surmising the fruit and olive trees. We had some fabulous meals, the most notable being at the local butcher's restaurant. Delicious! There is quite a steep and circuitous drive to get to the house. We cheered for ourselves each time we completed it, but the house was worth every winding turn! Nearby Lucca was a great base for sightseeing and had every convenience. Be sure to bike the ramparts!