We take bookings both through the commercially operated portal websites and we manage bookings ourselves. Below are all the reviews left on 'owners direct' and the 'Vrbo', 'Nature House' and 'Simply Owners' websites plus some given directly. Of course, you only have our word that these are genuine and inclusive, but we thought it might give you a flavour of the house if we included them here.
Reviewed May 2024 (Translated from Dutch)
The house is located in a secluded and wonderfully quiet area at the end of a small road in a forest. From the swimming pool you have a beautiful view of the surroundings. We had a wonderful week there.
Spacious house with several floors and (living) rooms. Ideal for a family with older children. Everything you need is available in and around the house.
Reviewed August 2023 (Translated from Dutch)
What a fantastic holiday home! The road to it is quite a challenge, but when you are at the top you imagine yourself in paradise! The infinity pool is breathtaking! The view there is more beautiful than the most beautiful postcard of Tuscany!
Complete privacy between the vines, we even spotted wild deer.
The house itself is very charming with many authentic features. It is furthermore fully equipped and consequently
you really don't miss anything here! Also a nice gift on arrival! Our stay was keyless but we still had good contact with Trevor (the owner) via email. In the area we visited Lucca (absolute pearl of Tuscany), Pisa and the Canyon Adventure park.
Reviewed August 2023
5/5
A wonderful stay in a wonderful place
We had promised ourselves a trip like this during lockdown, and it didn't disappoint at all. Our son had always been taken by the infinity pool, and it lived up to his expectations - on his walks round the region, he kept coming other pools to the Lupini one, and it won every time. The views from the villa and the pool are stunning - we also had a week of unbroken sunshine which helped. The villa itself is very sympathetically decorated and furnished - there was loads of space for the 4 of us, and the master bedroom at the top, with extra dressing room, was ultra special. Overall, it was a magical week - the walk, suggested by Trevor, round the back of the baths and down into Bagni di Lucca, was lovely and not too strenuous.
Reviewed July 2023
5/5
Brilliant
We had a fantastic stay and in this beautifully restored house. The master bedroom is beautiful - as is the cavernous bathroom, and the dressing room. The kids liked having their own floor. The kitchen is very well equipped and has everything you could possibly want (and a coffee machine). We enjoyed cooking a few nights. The generous welcome pack was a great surprise - we loved the focaccia bread and wine. Nothing can prepare you for the stunning views from the beautiful pool! The pool is large and a good depth for swimming and jumping in, but the views over the valley and across to the mountains are spectacular - especially at sunset! Our three children spent most of their time at the pool. There are lights for the pool and pool area at night and the water is a lovely temperature. I enjoyed being able to walk to the pretty village at the bottom of the hill. It’s a 10 to 15 min walk and there are paths and steps rather than walking on the road. There is a small path at the bottom of the lane (at the old spa building) so follow it down then briefly onto the road then to the steps. Bar Italia is great for breakfast - coffee and croissants (cornetti) and a good selection of pastries. There are lovely places to eat in the nearby villages. Cirolo dei Forestieri in Bagni di Lucca and pizzas in Fornoli. There is also a great Enoteca in Fornoli which sells local wines and serves them with lovely antipasti. We loved our time here and will definitely be back. Thank you
Reviewed July 2023
The house is surrounded by wildlife. The first night some porcupines or badgers were very active. The following days we saw a few deers.
General rating: 9
Wonderful house, kitchen is very well equipped.
Reviewed July 2023 (Translated from Dutch)
Nature, peace & environment:
Very green, nice view over the mountains. Deer seen, close to the house.
General rating: 9
Lovely spacious house. Everything has been thought of, everything is there.
The pool is fantastic.
In the area enough coffee bars etc. Enough to discover. Highly recommended!
Reviewed September 2022
Nature, peace & environment: (5 'leaves')
Sitting at the pool you can stare into the distance and only see mountains and trees. You are not far away from the closest village but it feels like your miles away from everything. Such peace and quiet! We saw many different animals, small and big, all within a 100 meters from the house.
General rating: 10
We had the most wonderful time. It was our first vacation with a baby and the house was well-suited for that. There were two baby cots to choose from, a baby chair, a stair guard and plenty of room to crawl. Even the pool has a shallow part for safety. We loved the surroundings, all the detailed information that was available about the house and the neighbourhood, and the house felt very warm and welcoming. We especially loved the bath in the spacious upper bedroom. We were a bit nervous about going on vacation with a 10 month old baby for the first time, but this house was really everything we could have wished for and more. We were astonished by all the beauty and hospitality and would definitely come back anytime.
Reviewed August 2022
Nature, peace & environment: (5 'leaves')
Dit huis ligt prachtig! Veel bos en enkele wijnvelden. Prachtige uitzichten.
General rating: 10
Een mooi, smaakvol gerenoveerd huis, van alle gemakken voorzien. Een heerlijk zwembad. Hoewel het dorpje op loopstand is ligt het huis aan het einde van een weggetje en is het huis fijn privé. Het weggetje is wel een uitdaging (heel smal), maar we konden onze auto iets lager bij de schuur van de buurman parkeren. We hebben hier een heerlijk tijd gehad!
Translation:
Nature, peace & environment: (5 'leaves')
This house is beautiful! Lots of forest and some vineyards. Beautiful views.
General rating: 10
A beautiful, tastefully renovated house, fully equipped. A lovely swimming pool. Although the village is within walking distance, the house is at the end of a road and the house is nice and private. The road is a challenge (very narrow), but we were able to park our car a little lower at the neighbor's shed. We had a wonderful time here!
Reviewed: June 2022
Nature, peace & environment:(5 Leaves)
Het is zeer rustig rond het huis, de tuin is ruim en prachtig, met een fantastisch uitzicht over het dal.
General rating: 9
Het is een comfortabel huis, met veel sfeer en oorspronkelijke elementen.
Translation:
Nature, peace & environment:(5 Leaves)
It is very quiet around the house, the garden is spacious and beautiful, with a fantastic view over the valley.
General rating: 9
It is a comfortable house, with a lot of atmosphere and original elements.
Reviewed August 2021 (Translated from Dutch)
Beautiful surroundings, holiday home is located in the middle of nature on a hill. Very beautiful, breathtaking view of the hill both from the terrace of the house and from the beautiful swimming pool.
Overall rating: 10
The holiday home is perfectly equipped, equipped with every comfort and very tastefully decorated. The infinity pool is really beautiful, the view of nature and the surroundings is beautiful. The contact with the host is remote, but we always got a quick answer to all our questions. A very thoughtful welcome pack was also waiting for us on arrival. We felt very well received. There is also a lot of information / reading available to discover Tuscany. Lucca and Pisa are an hour's drive away, but there are also many beautiful smaller villages nearby (eg Barga).
At the foot of the hill there are some cozy little restaurants and plenty of shops nearby. From the house you can take beautiful walks in nature. An absolute must!
The house is located in a secluded and wonderfully quiet area at the end of a small road in a forest. From the swimming pool you have a beautiful view of the surroundings. We had a wonderful week there.
Spacious house with several floors and (living) rooms. Ideal for a family with older children. Everything you need is available in and around the house.
Reviewed August 2023 (Translated from Dutch)
What a fantastic holiday home! The road to it is quite a challenge, but when you are at the top you imagine yourself in paradise! The infinity pool is breathtaking! The view there is more beautiful than the most beautiful postcard of Tuscany!
Complete privacy between the vines, we even spotted wild deer.
The house itself is very charming with many authentic features. It is furthermore fully equipped and consequently
you really don't miss anything here! Also a nice gift on arrival! Our stay was keyless but we still had good contact with Trevor (the owner) via email. In the area we visited Lucca (absolute pearl of Tuscany), Pisa and the Canyon Adventure park.
Reviewed August 2023
5/5
A wonderful stay in a wonderful place
We had promised ourselves a trip like this during lockdown, and it didn't disappoint at all. Our son had always been taken by the infinity pool, and it lived up to his expectations - on his walks round the region, he kept coming other pools to the Lupini one, and it won every time. The views from the villa and the pool are stunning - we also had a week of unbroken sunshine which helped. The villa itself is very sympathetically decorated and furnished - there was loads of space for the 4 of us, and the master bedroom at the top, with extra dressing room, was ultra special. Overall, it was a magical week - the walk, suggested by Trevor, round the back of the baths and down into Bagni di Lucca, was lovely and not too strenuous.
Reviewed July 2023
5/5
Brilliant
We had a fantastic stay and in this beautifully restored house. The master bedroom is beautiful - as is the cavernous bathroom, and the dressing room. The kids liked having their own floor. The kitchen is very well equipped and has everything you could possibly want (and a coffee machine). We enjoyed cooking a few nights. The generous welcome pack was a great surprise - we loved the focaccia bread and wine. Nothing can prepare you for the stunning views from the beautiful pool! The pool is large and a good depth for swimming and jumping in, but the views over the valley and across to the mountains are spectacular - especially at sunset! Our three children spent most of their time at the pool. There are lights for the pool and pool area at night and the water is a lovely temperature. I enjoyed being able to walk to the pretty village at the bottom of the hill. It’s a 10 to 15 min walk and there are paths and steps rather than walking on the road. There is a small path at the bottom of the lane (at the old spa building) so follow it down then briefly onto the road then to the steps. Bar Italia is great for breakfast - coffee and croissants (cornetti) and a good selection of pastries. There are lovely places to eat in the nearby villages. Cirolo dei Forestieri in Bagni di Lucca and pizzas in Fornoli. There is also a great Enoteca in Fornoli which sells local wines and serves them with lovely antipasti. We loved our time here and will definitely be back. Thank you
Reviewed July 2023
The house is surrounded by wildlife. The first night some porcupines or badgers were very active. The following days we saw a few deers.
General rating: 9
Wonderful house, kitchen is very well equipped.
Reviewed July 2023 (Translated from Dutch)
Nature, peace & environment:
Very green, nice view over the mountains. Deer seen, close to the house.
General rating: 9
Lovely spacious house. Everything has been thought of, everything is there.
The pool is fantastic.
In the area enough coffee bars etc. Enough to discover. Highly recommended!
Reviewed September 2022
Nature, peace & environment: (5 'leaves')
Sitting at the pool you can stare into the distance and only see mountains and trees. You are not far away from the closest village but it feels like your miles away from everything. Such peace and quiet! We saw many different animals, small and big, all within a 100 meters from the house.
General rating: 10
We had the most wonderful time. It was our first vacation with a baby and the house was well-suited for that. There were two baby cots to choose from, a baby chair, a stair guard and plenty of room to crawl. Even the pool has a shallow part for safety. We loved the surroundings, all the detailed information that was available about the house and the neighbourhood, and the house felt very warm and welcoming. We especially loved the bath in the spacious upper bedroom. We were a bit nervous about going on vacation with a 10 month old baby for the first time, but this house was really everything we could have wished for and more. We were astonished by all the beauty and hospitality and would definitely come back anytime.
Reviewed August 2022
Nature, peace & environment: (5 'leaves')
Dit huis ligt prachtig! Veel bos en enkele wijnvelden. Prachtige uitzichten.
General rating: 10
Een mooi, smaakvol gerenoveerd huis, van alle gemakken voorzien. Een heerlijk zwembad. Hoewel het dorpje op loopstand is ligt het huis aan het einde van een weggetje en is het huis fijn privé. Het weggetje is wel een uitdaging (heel smal), maar we konden onze auto iets lager bij de schuur van de buurman parkeren. We hebben hier een heerlijk tijd gehad!
Translation:
Nature, peace & environment: (5 'leaves')
This house is beautiful! Lots of forest and some vineyards. Beautiful views.
General rating: 10
A beautiful, tastefully renovated house, fully equipped. A lovely swimming pool. Although the village is within walking distance, the house is at the end of a road and the house is nice and private. The road is a challenge (very narrow), but we were able to park our car a little lower at the neighbor's shed. We had a wonderful time here!
Reviewed: June 2022
Nature, peace & environment:(5 Leaves)
Het is zeer rustig rond het huis, de tuin is ruim en prachtig, met een fantastisch uitzicht over het dal.
General rating: 9
Het is een comfortabel huis, met veel sfeer en oorspronkelijke elementen.
Translation:
Nature, peace & environment:(5 Leaves)
It is very quiet around the house, the garden is spacious and beautiful, with a fantastic view over the valley.
General rating: 9
It is a comfortable house, with a lot of atmosphere and original elements.
Reviewed August 2021 (Translated from Dutch)
Beautiful surroundings, holiday home is located in the middle of nature on a hill. Very beautiful, breathtaking view of the hill both from the terrace of the house and from the beautiful swimming pool.
Overall rating: 10
The holiday home is perfectly equipped, equipped with every comfort and very tastefully decorated. The infinity pool is really beautiful, the view of nature and the surroundings is beautiful. The contact with the host is remote, but we always got a quick answer to all our questions. A very thoughtful welcome pack was also waiting for us on arrival. We felt very well received. There is also a lot of information / reading available to discover Tuscany. Lucca and Pisa are an hour's drive away, but there are also many beautiful smaller villages nearby (eg Barga).
At the foot of the hill there are some cozy little restaurants and plenty of shops nearby. From the house you can take beautiful walks in nature. An absolute must!
Reviewed July 2021
5/5
Parfais
Maison atypique en pleine nature. Prestation haut de gamme, piscine sublime. Ns avons passé un excellent séjour en famille.
5/5
Parfais
Maison atypique en pleine nature. Prestation haut de gamme, piscine sublime. Ns avons passé un excellent séjour en famille.
Reviewed July 2020
The photos of Trevor and Christine's house don't do it justice. We had the most wonderful time staying there in July/ early August and I'd return again in a heartbeat. Over the course of the Covid lockdown, we dreamt about our holiday and the reality more than lived up to the hype. I'm so glad we made it – despite our flights being cancelled (we ended up driving from the UK). This is no standard holiday rental. They have thought of absolutely everything and it's a real home from home. The kitchen is incredibly well equipped meaning that our family of six (parents, kids of 18, 17, 12 and 11) could regularly cook proper meals at home. Although we did potter down to the village (15 minutes' walk) for several lovely meals - we ate at the Bar Italia, Corona Hotel and Restaurant Bruno and I'd recommend all of them. The rooms are all absolutely beautiful – the master suite is to die for. The kids were queuing up to use the en-suite which is bigger than my bedroom at home. There are two TVs and the kids logged onto our Netflix and Amazon Prime to watch films. But there is also a wonderful selection of board games which kept them entertained (and way from screens) for hours. We really wanted for nothing. The pool area was our highlight. I could sit and look at the view down the valley for hours. The kids were in the pool, or by it, for most of the time. We also enjoyed exploring the 'garden' and looking at the vines. There's also a useful herb garden (abundant and delicious sage for sage butter sauce). We took day trips to San Gimignano, Lucca, Florence and Pisa and the house is well-positioned for all of these. While the last bit of the road up to the house is undoubtedly narrow, it's manageable for a seven seater car like ours. There was a rare storm on the second day of our stay causing damage to the pool shed and the electricity to drop for a couple of hours. Trevor was extremely quick to respond and asked the local neighbours to drop in on us which was lovely. Normality was quickly restored. If there was a downside, it would be the bugs. Do remember to bring insect repellent as you'll need to spray it liberally if you want to sit outside in the evening. And it's well worth doing so – watching the fireflies and woodland creatures from the 'top terrace' and hiding from the kids while sharing a bottle of wine was our evening highlight. Thank you for a wonderful stay. Cathy, Justin, Jamie, Jude, Zara and Katy
Date of arrival - 23 July 2020
very nice villa in Bagni di Lucca.
Reviewed August 2019
La villa est proche du village, mais située en haut de la colline dans une zone boisée, ce qui fait qu'il n'y a absolument aucun vis a vis. La grande piscine offre une vue imprenable sur la vallée. De nombreux jeux sont disponibles a la piscine pour toute a famille. La cuisine est très bien équipée, mais le mieux est de profiter du forno, four a bois a l'ancienne à l'arrière de la maison. Cette villa convient pour les familles, mais attention le jardin en terrasse peut être problématique pour les jeunes enfants
Reviewed August 2019
La villa est proche du village, mais située en haut de la colline dans une zone boisée, ce qui fait qu'il n'y a absolument aucun vis a vis. La grande piscine offre une vue imprenable sur la vallée. De nombreux jeux sont disponibles a la piscine pour toute a famille. La cuisine est très bien équipée, mais le mieux est de profiter du forno, four a bois a l'ancienne à l'arrière de la maison. Cette villa convient pour les familles, mais attention le jardin en terrasse peut être problématique pour les jeunes enfants
Casa Lupini Review
Reviewed July 2018
Stunning house in an idyllic location! Beautifully renovated house perfect for 1 or 2 families, extremely well equipped with amazing views from every window. Plenty garden to explore (local wildlife was an added bonus!) & a fantastic infinity pool overlooking the valley. Loved the rural location whilst having amenities nearby. Location was also the perfect base for day trips elsewhere...Lucca, Florence, Pisa & Cinque Terre. So much to do in the local area from visiting various hilltop villages, to white water rafting, swimming in the river 10 mins drive from the house to enjoying a family cooking lesson at a local agritourismo! As a family of 4 (2 adults & 8yr old twins) we had a fantastic holiday here & will most definitely be back!
Reviewed July 2017
We enjoyed the perfect family holiday here - the house and its surroundings are so beautiful. The area has many easily accessible places to visit - we particularly enjoyed visiting Lucca. But best of all was the fun we had at the property. The pool is big enough for teenagers and adults to enjoy but safe for younger children. The house itself is so tastefully renovated and is equipped with everything you might need for a relaxed holiday. The countryside itself leaves a lasting impression - heavenly views, wild flowers and wild life. We can't wait for our next visit.
"Gorgeous Hilltop Farmhouse with Panoramic Views"
Reviewed June 2017
Staying at Casa Lupini was by far the highlight of our recent 17-day vacation to Italy and Spain. Our only regret was that we didn't plan our trip to stay at this beautifully restored farmhouse longer. The road up to the property is daunting--especially for Americans who rented a small SUV instead of an Italy-sized appropriate small car--but once you are up there it is breathtaking. The first night,Trevor and Christine were there to greet us after an extremely long travel day with a basket of goodies and wine, so we didn't have to venture out to find groceries right away. Once we did go out, we found the quaint little village of Bagni Di Lucca where the river runs through the middle and there are roadside restaurants, grocery, bank and gas station, just what you need but not too commercial. The house itself is tastefully appointed and you'll find everything you need, including linens, washer, kitchen supplies, pool towels etc inside the house and pool toys, chair cushions etc outside in the pool shed. There is no air conditioning, but we found the fans and some open windows keep the house cool at night, better to close them during the day. In early/mid June the wifi worked just fine, even allowed us to stream videos on our devices and use the Apple TV that is in place in the living area. We explored the old Devil's Bridge just a few kilometers away as well as the hilltop town of Barga, but there were many more places we could've gone in the area, had we left ourselves the time. We also found it convenient to visit Lucca and Pisa, where we were able to spend some time with relatives. We highly encourage visitors to check out the picture book Trevor made that shows the house in its original condition before the Hadleys did the renovation. The transformation is stunning. We whole-heartedly recommend this hidden jewel and again, our only regret...not staying more than a week. That said, we do hope to return one day!
"Superb Property in Garfagnana"
Reviewed September 2016
This beautiful, well appointed, newly renovated traditional house was superbly presented and clean. The owners left a generous welcome pack meaning we didn't have to go shopping following our journey. Outside the infinity pool was a lovely temperature following the summer and had long reaching views down the valley. The wood fired pizza oven was another great touch. Highly recommended for anyone looking to explore Northern Tuscany, Florence, Pisa and Abetone (skiing) all within easy reach.
"Italian Hideaway"
Reviewed August 2016
WOW! We have just returned from a 3 week stay at Casa Lupini and are already missing it! This review is much shorter than the 3 pages we wrote in the visitors book !!
The location of the property is 'away from it all' but not remote and everything you need is within 5-10 minutes of the property.
The quality of the house is super and felt like home from home.
As a family of 4 (x2 teenagers) we had plenty of space and loved the fact that the kids had their own bathroom whilst on holiday (a rare treat).
We explored the local hilltop villages which were spectacular, Barga, Grenoala, Bagni di Lucca and we also had several days exploring in Lucca, just a half hour trip away (so much to see and do).
We visited Florence on 2 occasions,drove to Pistoia then caught the train.
Gorge walking was a brilliant days activity if you're feeling energetic, be prepared to get wet!!
The wildlife around the property was brilliant we sat out in the evenings and were joined by the deer who would come out of the woods onto the terraces at dusk, brilliant!
The pool is stunning and is just what is needed to cool off, surrounded by beautiful scenery, we spent many days around the pool and getting the kids to do anything else was a challenge.
The pizza oven - give it a go on second try we got x4 fab pizzas, home made pizza dough too!
From start to finish the holiday was brilliant, the owners were so quick to reply to any emails or questions prior to our arrival and during the stay. Lots of information at the property and interesting reading material about the area.
Thanks Trevor and Christine, your home is wonderful and we are thankful that we were allowed to share it for a short period of time. We will return.
"Tuscan Paradise"
Reviewed June 2016
Being the first guests of the season, we were warmly welcomed by the owners, Trevor Hadley and his wife, who also surprised us with a full fridge, thus preventing us from having to shopping immediately.
What to say about Casa Lupini?
If you are looking for an exciting city life, do not go there. But if you are looking for a very comfortable hous with a large terrace garden, a fantastic inifinity pool, a stunning view over valley and mountains and a lot of privacy, this probably is the best choice you can make.
We (6 adults ) spent two weeks there, late May/ early June and the most difficult choice every day was whether to stay at the house or go out.
Nice towns like Pisa and Lucca are in easy reach, but also more nearby villages like e.g. Barga are certainly worth visiting.
Shopping is easy in Villa or Fornoli, both a 5 - 10 minutes drive and good restaurants are there as well.
We had a perfect time and certainly hope to come back again.
"A Perfect Stay"
Six of us, including our two daughters (11 + 9) have just stayed for a week at Rupini House. The place was perfect for us, it's a good climb up to it but well worth it when you get there. The views from both the infinity pool and house are amazing. The house has been renovated and kitted out to a very high standard and everything you require is there. There are loads of places to see in the surrounding area and a week is not enough in our opinion. There are resaurants in walking distance, maybe 10-15 minutes, but it is a good climb back. As it says in the description, the land around is very steep, so young children will have to be well tended. We loved every minute and will definately be back. The restaurant at Granaiola is excellent about a 10 minute drive.
"Peace and quiet without isolation" ★ ★ ★ ★ ★
What is not to love about Casa Lupini? Less than 10 minutes drive from town, completely separate from other properties with it's own pool and gorgeous views across the valley, we were sad to leave after a fortnight here. This place is beautiful ...
Very well furnished, spotlessly clean, traditional features alongside modern technology (digital TV/DVD/reliable Wi-Fi) makes this an ideal holiday retreat, with owners that are only a text/email away to give you help or ideas. The house was very spacious for our family of four. The children adored the pool. The furnishings are stylish, and we were impressed how well thought out the whole property is.
The drive up to the house is initially daunting - but no more so than driving on Italian roads anyway - and well worth it when you get there! And there is always the chance of catching sight of the wildlife - deer, porcupines, dormice - especially at night ...
After 2 weeks, it is amazing what we didn't achieve - we strayed as far as Lucca (30 minutes by car) but spent most of the time in the local area relaxing in the summer heat. We all enjoyed 'Canyon Park' (zip wires etc), swimming in the river and gorge walking - but most of all we enjoyed pizza, pasta and Prosecco!
A car is essential - but beyond that and a little bit of guide-book Italian, Casa Lupini makes a great base for a very easy and hugely relaxing holiday!
“Gorgeous”
Reviewed November, 2014
A beautiful house, well equipped with a lovely attention to detail. The pool is amazing, I could have stayed in it all day and the views are much much better than the photos would suggest. Lots of interesting places to visit nearby (Lucca, particularly) although a car is useful. Make sure it's a small car as the lane up to the house is not for the fainthearted! Once you've driven it a few times, however, it gets easier. Local restaurants are very nice, and the walk back up the hill burns off any extra calories consumed. All in all, a wonderful holiday and I hope one day to return myself.
“A memorable and lovely holiday”
Reviewed August, 2014
We stayed at Case Lupini for 2 weeks in August and had a wonderful holiday. It was totally peaceful and relaxing, at the end of a tiny lane, but actually very close to a lovely village. The house is a beautifully restored old farmhouse, very rustic among it's own vines, but extremely well-equipped. The infinity pool with the view over the neighbouring mountains is stunning. It is also close to some lovely places to visit, including Lucca and Pisa, and we managed trips to Florence, a couple of hours on the train. The house also has it's own stone pizza oven, which was good fun.
The owners were extremely helpful and gave plenty of information. We would highly recommend it for a holiday away from it all, but in lovely countryside and within reach of some beautiful old towns.
“Lovely location, peaceful”
Reviewed January, 2013
We were the first guests (before the pool) last September. Really lovely comfortable house. Great views over valley and Bagni di Lucca below. Great for walkers, as you can walk from the house along quiet roads. We took our bicycles....very hilly area, so after one day of puffing went back to shankses pony!
Great for Lucca and Barga - short drive away.
Lovely river bed walk in national park ..wear old shoes you can walk through stream in - great fun!
Outdoor pizza oven was fun, get it very hot before putting pizza's in.
Reviewed July 2018
Stunning house in an idyllic location! Beautifully renovated house perfect for 1 or 2 families, extremely well equipped with amazing views from every window. Plenty garden to explore (local wildlife was an added bonus!) & a fantastic infinity pool overlooking the valley. Loved the rural location whilst having amenities nearby. Location was also the perfect base for day trips elsewhere...Lucca, Florence, Pisa & Cinque Terre. So much to do in the local area from visiting various hilltop villages, to white water rafting, swimming in the river 10 mins drive from the house to enjoying a family cooking lesson at a local agritourismo! As a family of 4 (2 adults & 8yr old twins) we had a fantastic holiday here & will most definitely be back!
Reviewed July 2017
We enjoyed the perfect family holiday here - the house and its surroundings are so beautiful. The area has many easily accessible places to visit - we particularly enjoyed visiting Lucca. But best of all was the fun we had at the property. The pool is big enough for teenagers and adults to enjoy but safe for younger children. The house itself is so tastefully renovated and is equipped with everything you might need for a relaxed holiday. The countryside itself leaves a lasting impression - heavenly views, wild flowers and wild life. We can't wait for our next visit.
"Gorgeous Hilltop Farmhouse with Panoramic Views"
Reviewed June 2017
Staying at Casa Lupini was by far the highlight of our recent 17-day vacation to Italy and Spain. Our only regret was that we didn't plan our trip to stay at this beautifully restored farmhouse longer. The road up to the property is daunting--especially for Americans who rented a small SUV instead of an Italy-sized appropriate small car--but once you are up there it is breathtaking. The first night,Trevor and Christine were there to greet us after an extremely long travel day with a basket of goodies and wine, so we didn't have to venture out to find groceries right away. Once we did go out, we found the quaint little village of Bagni Di Lucca where the river runs through the middle and there are roadside restaurants, grocery, bank and gas station, just what you need but not too commercial. The house itself is tastefully appointed and you'll find everything you need, including linens, washer, kitchen supplies, pool towels etc inside the house and pool toys, chair cushions etc outside in the pool shed. There is no air conditioning, but we found the fans and some open windows keep the house cool at night, better to close them during the day. In early/mid June the wifi worked just fine, even allowed us to stream videos on our devices and use the Apple TV that is in place in the living area. We explored the old Devil's Bridge just a few kilometers away as well as the hilltop town of Barga, but there were many more places we could've gone in the area, had we left ourselves the time. We also found it convenient to visit Lucca and Pisa, where we were able to spend some time with relatives. We highly encourage visitors to check out the picture book Trevor made that shows the house in its original condition before the Hadleys did the renovation. The transformation is stunning. We whole-heartedly recommend this hidden jewel and again, our only regret...not staying more than a week. That said, we do hope to return one day!
"Superb Property in Garfagnana"
Reviewed September 2016
This beautiful, well appointed, newly renovated traditional house was superbly presented and clean. The owners left a generous welcome pack meaning we didn't have to go shopping following our journey. Outside the infinity pool was a lovely temperature following the summer and had long reaching views down the valley. The wood fired pizza oven was another great touch. Highly recommended for anyone looking to explore Northern Tuscany, Florence, Pisa and Abetone (skiing) all within easy reach.
"Italian Hideaway"
Reviewed August 2016
WOW! We have just returned from a 3 week stay at Casa Lupini and are already missing it! This review is much shorter than the 3 pages we wrote in the visitors book !!
The location of the property is 'away from it all' but not remote and everything you need is within 5-10 minutes of the property.
The quality of the house is super and felt like home from home.
As a family of 4 (x2 teenagers) we had plenty of space and loved the fact that the kids had their own bathroom whilst on holiday (a rare treat).
We explored the local hilltop villages which were spectacular, Barga, Grenoala, Bagni di Lucca and we also had several days exploring in Lucca, just a half hour trip away (so much to see and do).
We visited Florence on 2 occasions,drove to Pistoia then caught the train.
Gorge walking was a brilliant days activity if you're feeling energetic, be prepared to get wet!!
The wildlife around the property was brilliant we sat out in the evenings and were joined by the deer who would come out of the woods onto the terraces at dusk, brilliant!
The pool is stunning and is just what is needed to cool off, surrounded by beautiful scenery, we spent many days around the pool and getting the kids to do anything else was a challenge.
The pizza oven - give it a go on second try we got x4 fab pizzas, home made pizza dough too!
From start to finish the holiday was brilliant, the owners were so quick to reply to any emails or questions prior to our arrival and during the stay. Lots of information at the property and interesting reading material about the area.
Thanks Trevor and Christine, your home is wonderful and we are thankful that we were allowed to share it for a short period of time. We will return.
"Tuscan Paradise"
Reviewed June 2016
Being the first guests of the season, we were warmly welcomed by the owners, Trevor Hadley and his wife, who also surprised us with a full fridge, thus preventing us from having to shopping immediately.
What to say about Casa Lupini?
If you are looking for an exciting city life, do not go there. But if you are looking for a very comfortable hous with a large terrace garden, a fantastic inifinity pool, a stunning view over valley and mountains and a lot of privacy, this probably is the best choice you can make.
We (6 adults ) spent two weeks there, late May/ early June and the most difficult choice every day was whether to stay at the house or go out.
Nice towns like Pisa and Lucca are in easy reach, but also more nearby villages like e.g. Barga are certainly worth visiting.
Shopping is easy in Villa or Fornoli, both a 5 - 10 minutes drive and good restaurants are there as well.
We had a perfect time and certainly hope to come back again.
"A Perfect Stay"
Six of us, including our two daughters (11 + 9) have just stayed for a week at Rupini House. The place was perfect for us, it's a good climb up to it but well worth it when you get there. The views from both the infinity pool and house are amazing. The house has been renovated and kitted out to a very high standard and everything you require is there. There are loads of places to see in the surrounding area and a week is not enough in our opinion. There are resaurants in walking distance, maybe 10-15 minutes, but it is a good climb back. As it says in the description, the land around is very steep, so young children will have to be well tended. We loved every minute and will definately be back. The restaurant at Granaiola is excellent about a 10 minute drive.
"Peace and quiet without isolation" ★ ★ ★ ★ ★
What is not to love about Casa Lupini? Less than 10 minutes drive from town, completely separate from other properties with it's own pool and gorgeous views across the valley, we were sad to leave after a fortnight here. This place is beautiful ...
Very well furnished, spotlessly clean, traditional features alongside modern technology (digital TV/DVD/reliable Wi-Fi) makes this an ideal holiday retreat, with owners that are only a text/email away to give you help or ideas. The house was very spacious for our family of four. The children adored the pool. The furnishings are stylish, and we were impressed how well thought out the whole property is.
The drive up to the house is initially daunting - but no more so than driving on Italian roads anyway - and well worth it when you get there! And there is always the chance of catching sight of the wildlife - deer, porcupines, dormice - especially at night ...
After 2 weeks, it is amazing what we didn't achieve - we strayed as far as Lucca (30 minutes by car) but spent most of the time in the local area relaxing in the summer heat. We all enjoyed 'Canyon Park' (zip wires etc), swimming in the river and gorge walking - but most of all we enjoyed pizza, pasta and Prosecco!
A car is essential - but beyond that and a little bit of guide-book Italian, Casa Lupini makes a great base for a very easy and hugely relaxing holiday!
“Gorgeous”
Reviewed November, 2014
A beautiful house, well equipped with a lovely attention to detail. The pool is amazing, I could have stayed in it all day and the views are much much better than the photos would suggest. Lots of interesting places to visit nearby (Lucca, particularly) although a car is useful. Make sure it's a small car as the lane up to the house is not for the fainthearted! Once you've driven it a few times, however, it gets easier. Local restaurants are very nice, and the walk back up the hill burns off any extra calories consumed. All in all, a wonderful holiday and I hope one day to return myself.
“A memorable and lovely holiday”
Reviewed August, 2014
We stayed at Case Lupini for 2 weeks in August and had a wonderful holiday. It was totally peaceful and relaxing, at the end of a tiny lane, but actually very close to a lovely village. The house is a beautifully restored old farmhouse, very rustic among it's own vines, but extremely well-equipped. The infinity pool with the view over the neighbouring mountains is stunning. It is also close to some lovely places to visit, including Lucca and Pisa, and we managed trips to Florence, a couple of hours on the train. The house also has it's own stone pizza oven, which was good fun.
The owners were extremely helpful and gave plenty of information. We would highly recommend it for a holiday away from it all, but in lovely countryside and within reach of some beautiful old towns.
“Lovely location, peaceful”
Reviewed January, 2013
We were the first guests (before the pool) last September. Really lovely comfortable house. Great views over valley and Bagni di Lucca below. Great for walkers, as you can walk from the house along quiet roads. We took our bicycles....very hilly area, so after one day of puffing went back to shankses pony!
Great for Lucca and Barga - short drive away.
Lovely river bed walk in national park ..wear old shoes you can walk through stream in - great fun!
Outdoor pizza oven was fun, get it very hot before putting pizza's in.
