"encantea" lovely country house - Apartment "Melissa"
The "Melissa" apartment is one of the three apartments that are part of the "encantea" holiday home. The large farmhouse, recently renovated, is a location where you would like to stay longer than a simple holiday! The apartment "Melissa" is at just 2 Km from the Historical Centre of Lucca, in a green and quiet area but close to everything.. A large pool of 14x7 metres, in the middle of the big garden of 2 hectares, is available for the guests. Each apartment has a private place at the pool with umbrella and sun loungers. Characteristic and typical country house amongst green fields only 2 km from the historical walls of Lucca and close to the most important cities of art in Tuscany. A romantic and comfortable environment and ideal to spend an unforgettable holiday. "Melissa"apartment has two double bedrooms, two bathrooms as well as a welcoming attic, which can accommodate one more person. The apartment has two bathrooms with shower, sink and toilet. The kitchen, fully equipped, is located on the ground floor and is adiacent to the dining area. Outdoor in front of the apartment is available a gazebo with table and chairs.
The setting of Melissa is beautiful, tranquil and picturesque. Giovanna and Francesco put a lot of effort into maintaining the property and it shows in the interior and surroundings. The property was spotlessly clean. Minor gripes, no kettle in Melissa so we spent a lot of time boiling saucepans of water! The bed linen and pillows are very good quality but the bed was too hard for me. For 5/6 people the seating inside isnât really comfortable enough but itâs ok.
Aaaaargh - the mosquitoes! Take lots of strong repellent and anti histamine is my advice and spray in the day.
Lucca is easily accessible and a lovely town. Great little pizza place just inside Porto Santa Maria, cheap and great quality.
We didnât venture too far as it was just too hot for flogging around with teenagers and were extending our trip with 3 days in Florence but the local area is beautiful. The resort at Marina Pietra Santa is lovely although our fellow guest told us it can cost 80 euro to hire beds etc!
All in all a lovely week in the beautiful Italian countryside.
We meet up with my sister & her husband & my daughter & partner. Had a lovely stay in the Melisa house plenty of room for the six of us. Beautiful pool to just sit around & relax, very peaceful Lovely hosts very helpful. Would definitely recommend. Thank you
My bestie and I stayed 4 nights in this incredible 2 BR 2 BA farmhouse and loved every minute of it. There is a loft on the third floor with another bed if needed. Giovanna our host was so gracious and available for any need that was needed. Beautiful, crisp linens and fun and happy everyday ceramic plates and bowls made us feel welcome and special. Giovanna provided maps and suggestions for things to do in this quaint and charming town yet also info for day trips as well.
We would definitely recommend to couples or families. The grounds are lovely and open, plenty of room for kids to run around. Views of gorgeous mountain scapes in almost every direction. We had breakfast on the covered patio every morning listening to birds chirp happy songs. This place is a gem!
The five of us truly enjoyed our âEncanteaâ vacation centered in Lucca with many adventures within the walls of Lucca, as well as trips to close by Pisa, Florence and nearby beaches. Giovanna and Francesco were perfect hosts. They provided many worthwhile suggestions for places to visit and eat. In addition, they were very accommodating to our requests and made us feel at home. We have stayed in many HomeAway houses and apartments the past 10 years and definitely place Encantea and especially Giovanna at or near the top.
Enchanting! Lovely spot, farmhouse style property with everything you need, beautifully tended gardens and pool, nice and close to Lucca. Giovanna really helpful and gave great tips on what to do and where. As no-one booked in just before or after us allowed us a little extra time, which was a nice touch and the sort of thing that would make me return. What a beautiful area!!
Thank you Giovanna :)
Booked the 'Melissa' unit of Encantea for a family holiday for three couples, us and our two grown-up children and partners. The accommodation was ideal. It is comfortable, well-appointed, with good bedrooms with lovely views across the Tuscan hills. There is efficient air conditionning in all three bedrooms. A lot of thought has gone into ensuring each unit has private outside space - we had outside seating directly in front of the kitchen (ideal for dinner) and under the portico you see in the picture - nice for an al fresco breakfast. The grounds are expansive, enjoying the views, and the outdoor pool of a very high quality, again with designated seating areas for each unit. There is plenty of parking space, bikes can be rented for a week, and a nice touch is that herbs are plentiful in the garden and Giovanna encouraged us to use them in cooking, which we did. This is an ideal location if you seek both a peaceful and beautiful place to relax in, and a base very close to the bustle and culture of Lucca. It takes around 30 minutes to walk into the city, or by car it is very quick. Pisa airport is a mere 30 minutes by car and there are regular rail services from Lucca. For trips into Lucca we recommend parking in the underground 'Mazzini' car park - cheap and accessible. Lucca itself is a lovely place - a highlight for us was a visit to the nightly opera recital in a church near the Duomo, which also has fascinating archeological excavation beneath. And a walk or cycle around the walls is not be missed. The owners of Encantea are very welcolming and helpful. There are local amenities a short drive or cycle away; the CRAI supermarket has all essentials and is about 1K from the house in San Alessio. We highly recommend the Bar Tambellini (even closer) for lunch (only open in the day). And for great pizza, turn the other way to go to Keplero Pizza. No cutlery, plastic glasses, just authentic pizza,and local beer and wine at excellent value.We walked there in 15 minutes and got a great welcome. Overall, this property is a gem.
Dyrt, men ferieboligen og udenoms arealerne samt swimmingpool var som anfĂžrt i prospektet.
Vi havde lejligheden "Melissa" til 6 personer. Lejligheden og udenoms arealerne "parken med swimmingpoolen" svarede til vores forventninger. VÊrtsparret og personale var venlig og hjÊlpsomme. UdendÞrsfaciliteterne for de 4 lejligheder var opdelt og i orden. HusgerÄd var dog meget sparsomt. Der manglede fx. kartoffelskrÊller, urteknive, ildfaste fade og skÄle m.m. Lejligheden lÄ smukt og i rolige omgivelser, men alligevel tÊt pÄ Lucca.Vejret i juli var dog rigeligt varmt. Vi havde et dejligt ophold, og hele familien kan klart anbefale feriestedet. De bedste sommerhilsner 2018 fra Oscar,Sofie,Camilla,Michael, Anni og Leif.
GIOVANNI WAS FANTASTIC, SO WARM AND WELCOMING. SHE MADE US FEEL LIKE HONORED GUESTS. THIS WAS AN AMAZING PLACE. FRESH FLOWERS, HERBS FOR COOKING, FANTASTIC MOUNTAIN VIEWS, BEAUTIFUL ACCOMMODATIONS. METICULOUSLY CLEAN. CLEAN FRESH LINENS, SPARKLING CLEAN SWIMMING POOL. I WANT TO RETURN TO THIS PLACE SOMEDAY.
This was our first visit to the area and we were lucky to have chosen this wonderful property just outside Lucca. Spread over 3 floors, there was plenty of room for the 5 adults and little one and the garden and pool area was huge. There is a very nice eating outside eating area which we used all the time. We were met by Giovanna after receiving clear directions and shown around. Everything was as described and wonderful.
The property is about a 15 minute walk to shops and restaurants and around 40 minutes pleasant walk into Lucca.
Our villa was absolutely great and the grounds and pool were fantastic.
Giovanna was so helpful. We were supposed to land in Pisa in the afternoon. Our plane was diverted to Milan. We were then loaded on to buses and driven to Pisa airport. We then had to get our hire hire car in the middle of the night and drive to Lucca. we got in touch with Giovanna who guided us to our villa which we arrive at 2am in the morning and greeted with a smiling Giovanna..
Giovanna told us about restaurants and places to go to and even rang taxis for us.
I don't think you could get a better host, thank you so Giovanna from all of us
Fantastic place! This is our second stay her and still impressed. The place is very well maintained and the owners are so friendly. Everything is very thought through both with regards to the property and how they treat
their guests.
The listing and the photos are completely accurate; in fact the grounds and scenery are more stunning than depicted. The whole place is immaculate,clean and well maintained. The pool and surrounds were spotless and very tranquil as they are shared by only 4 apartments. Lovely greeting from Giovanna who couldn't do enough for us. We walked into Lucca ,and back, on 2 occasions at a healthy pace and it takes 30 minutes minimum. On other occasions we walked in and took a taxi back. Cost varied between 14 and 17 euros. This property is highly recommended and we would definitely stay here should we return to the area
A perfect location , close to Lucca but with a rural feel and an idyllic pool garden area .
We have just returned home from such a memorable week at Encantea at Melissa. We had read all the previous reviews and now totally agree with all the wonderful comments we read about Giovana and Francesco and their lovely property. It is such a perfect location and we enjoyed the fact we could visit Lucca , Pisa and Firenze and Borga ( a great recommendation from Giovanna) and still also have relaxation time by the lovely pool. We hope to return again soon .
A Tuscan treat! Melissa is beautifully decorated (think exposed brick walls and beams), with a sweeping lawn and clean pool, perfect for swimming laps. You'll wake to the birds singing - there's a serene atmosphere yet it's only a five-minute drive from bustling Lucca and you can jog along the river to work up an appetite for breakfast. Joanna the host recommended some excellent local restaurants and attractions (and even made reservations for us). Don't miss the nearby ice cream shop (incredible flavours and far better than those in town). The two master double bedrooms are excellent but the top bedroom can get very hot (you pay extra for air conditioning) and has less comfy beds (single and a futon type bed). The kitchen is well stocked and there's a lovely patio area for breakfast. Tips? You'll need a car and food supplies (supermarket 5 mins away). And a few extra holes in your belt... the pasta is so good! Nearby attractions include the beach (30 mins away) and Montecarlo wine region (30 mins drive).
If you're looking for a luxury stay in beautiful grounds then this is an ideal property. Within walking distance to Lucca. We will be staying here again in the future.
Encantea is a real 5 star accomocation,
The location, just outside Luca is a great place to discover the coast and other beatiful cities in Tuscany.
It is also a perfectenvironment for cycling.
Geovanna and Francesco are very nice host.
Recommended for a pleasant holiday in "bella Italia"
(family with three kids, 19 and 16 years)
We arrived on Oct 2nd. 2015 for a 5 night stay at the Melissa property and were warmly greeted by Giovanna. She stayed with us for over an hour answering all our questions and giving suggestions on where to go and where to eat. The place was as advertised , well maintained and spotless. Giovanna was always available to help and I would definitly return to Melissa in the future.....................Thank You GIovanna for your wonderfull place and great hospitality.
The owner was there to meet us, to go through the property and information about what you were aloud to use.
The property was okay, not excellent, the shower door was broken, some of the crockery was chipped, towels were poor quality.
We didn't feel comfortable about the idea that the owner was always around and putting things back, like when you finished using the sunbeds and we didn't put them back where they should be, the owner did, we have a holiday to relax.
We think that gardening could be done in the morning or in the evening, when there is no one around.
It would have been nice to have had a welcome pack, just basics.
Equipment and linens were poor quality.
Villa was clean.
At the time we had the villa (25th September to 2nd October) was very noisy, there was a fun fair in the area, and also a factory down the road which started at 5 in the morning, there is also a road that passes by the property, which we thought would be quite, but was not, it was very noisy, first thing in the morning.
We was treated to a fireworks display, to celebrate some Saint, sorry don't know which one, lasted for about forty minutes, quite impressive.
We would rate this property a three star.
We had a lovely week at Encantea. Giovanna was so helpful with directions and recommendations and made our visit very easy. My husband and I with our teenage daughters and my sister stayed in the Melissa unit. The property is just as the pictures show and we spent late afternoons floating in the beautiful saltwater pool. Lucca is a charming town easily accessible from the property and it is also easy to make day trips around Tuscany. We highly recommend the property and it's lovely owners.
Encantea is a lovely place to stay. The apartment 'Melissa' is spacious and very comfortable, tastefully furnished and very well equipped. We stayed here for the second time with a family of 6. You can enjoy your meals outside with plenty of privacy. The beautiful pool and spacious garden are an oasis of calm. The location is just perfect: near Lucca center and only a half hour drive from the beach (Marina di Vecchiano, an absolute must!). And thanks to the personal attention and loving care of Francesco and Giovanna 'Encantea' really feels like home. We hope to come back someday!