Things To Do

The Villa

Honestly, you really don’t have to leave the estate if you don’t want to. Between the pools, pickleball, tennis courts and concierge, there is plenty to keep you busy. Our venue team can help arrange basically anything under the sun, from massages and cooking classes to wine tastings and more. If you are interested in hearing about the options, let Emma or Rhett know and we will send you their contact information!
Or just lay by the pool for six hours and drink wine at noon. You’re in Tuscany!

Just 10 minutes from the villas is Lucca, a beautiful walled city with more than 2,000 years of history and exactly the kind of Italy you came for.

It’s walkable, beautiful and full of little shops, cafés, piazzas, pasta and wine. There is absolutely no reason to have a strict itinerary or be in a hurry here. Wander around, eat something, drink something and see where the day takes you.

When you’re ready to explore, just let the onsite staff know and they can call a taxi to take you into Lucca!

Explore Lucca

  • Walk or bike the city walls
    Lucca’s historic center is completely surrounded by tree lined Renaissance walls. Rent a bike, grab a coffee and make a lap. Or walk half of it and stop for a sarti spritz!

    Wander through Piazza dell’Anfiteatro
    This iconic oval piazza was built on the remains of an ancient Roman amphitheater. Very historic, very beautiful and, most importantly, a perfect place to sit outside with a drink and people watch.

    Climb Torre Guinigi
    This is the medieval tower with actual oak trees growing on top. The stairs may briefly ruin your life, but the view over Lucca is worth it.

    See a little Puccini history
    Composer Giacomo Puccini was born in Lucca, and his childhood home is now a museum. Go inside if that interests you, or simply walk through the piazza and say you experienced culture.

    Pop into Palazzo Pfanner
    Come for the historic palace, stay for the beautiful Baroque garden, lemon trees and statues. It’s one of those places that makes you feel like you accidentally wandered into a movie.

    Eat something local
    Order the tordelli with a “D,” try a slice of buccellato and say yes to basically anything involving fresh pasta, local olive oil or wine.

    Go hungry and figure it out from there
    Honestly, you do not need much of a plan. Walk along Via Fillungo, pop into the shops, find a cute table outside and order the house wine. You’re in Italy. It is really hard to mess this up.

MAKE A TRIP OF IT!

Since you’re already coming all the way to Italy, we fully support turning our wedding into an excuse for a longer vacation!

August is peak season, so these places will be busy, hot and absolutely worth it. We recommend exploring before or after the wedding weekend so you can enjoy your trip without missing any time at the villas. Book hotels, beach clubs and major attractions early!

  • Five colorful villages built along the Italian Riviera with beaches, hiking trails, little restaurants and truly insane views.

    Take the train and hop between villages, or stay for a night or two and slow it down. Monterosso is best for an actual beach day, while Vernazza and Manarola are perfect for wandering, eating and drinking with a view.

    Beautiful? Yes. Crowded in August? Also yes. Plan ahead and accept the chaos.

  • If you have never been to Florence, this is your sign. It is about an hour and 20 minutes from Lucca by train and full of art, shopping, pasta, wine and some of the most beautiful buildings you will ever see.

    See the Duomo, walk across Ponte Vecchio, visit a museum and eat as much as physically possible. If you want to see David or visit the Uffizi, book tickets ahead of time.

  • For wine country, medieval hill towns, cypress lined roads and the Tuscany you have been picturing in your head.

    Start in Siena, then rent a car and make your way through Val d’Orcia. Stop in Pienza, Montepulciano or Montalcino, book a wine tasting and stay somewhere in the countryside for a night or two.

    Drive around, eat cheese, drink wine and pull over every five minutes because the view is too pretty. This is the one for the full Tuscan fantasy.

  • For anyone whose main travel priority is food. Respect.

    Bologna is known for tagliatelle al ragù, tortellini, mortadella and basically everything good in life. Wander beneath the porticoes, eat until you physically cannot anymore and stay for a night or two so you do not have to rush.

    Come hungry. That is the whole plan.

  • For the full, classic Italy experience.

    See the Colosseum, throw a coin in the Trevi Fountain, visit the Vatican and eat carbonara at least once a day. Rome is big, busy, hot in August and completely worth it.

    Give yourself at least three nights and book the major attractions ahead of time. Showing up and hoping for the best is probably not the move here.

  • For beautiful villas, boat rides, tiny lakeside towns and living out your fanciest Italian vacation fantasy.

    Stay in Bellagio, Varenna or Como and use the ferry to explore the lake. Book a boat day, have a very long lunch and pretend this is just your normal life now.

    Lake Como is not particularly close to Lucca, so make it a proper trip extension and stay for a few nights. It will also be extremely busy in August, so book early and prepare to spend some money.