Outdoor dining in Tuscany: dining under the stars
Thursday, April 16, 2026,
Experience the magic of dining outdoors in Tuscan country homes. Villas and farmhouses among olive groves and hills, sunsets over the sea, and unforgettable evenings.
The first day in a Tuscan house is always something special.You arrive in the late afternoon, drop off your bags, open the windows, and the evening air drifts in gently. The house is exactly as you expected… often even better!But it’s when someone asks, “Where do we eat?” that the vacation truly begins.Unhurriedly, the table starts to come alive with the few things bought along the way: bread, tomatoes, a piece of cheese, a bottle of wine… The table is set with what’s there. Nothing is perfect, but everything works.In many Tuscan country homes, the heart of the evening is an outdoor table.It might be under a pergola covered in wisteria, with light filtering through the leaves, or in the garden beneath a tree. Sometimes it’s a terrace with a view of the lake.Often, the first dinner is the most memorable: simple, spontaneous, with no plans at all. Plates arrive without any particular order, someone gets up to fetch more bread, someone pours the wine, someone tells a story.No one checks the clock. In Tuscany, dinner seems never-ending. Cicadas fill the air, then slowly fall silent. All that remains are voices, clinking glasses, a few laughs. There’s no music. None is needed.What makes it all feel real are the people. The host who welcomed you and left a bottle of wine saying, “This is the right one for your first evening.” The lady in the village selling vegetables from her garden. The small nearby restaurant that prepares something to take home. Simple details, but they’re the ones that stay with you.The light changes little by little, night falls, but no one wants to get up. You stay at the table a little longer, even without eating.Then, almost without realizing it, the evening ends. You clear the table together, close the house gently, and go to bed with that sense of fulfillment that only simple days can bring, already thinking about breakfast the next morning, outside with the same calm.It’s not the house that makes the difference. It’s the way you live it.Take, for example, Casa degli Olivi, a charming farmhouse recently fully renovated, nestled among the picturesque hills of Pisa and surrounded by hundreds of olive trees: a peaceful retreat with a beautiful garden, a shaded pergola, and breathtaking sunsets over the Tuscan valley.Some homes are tucked among the olive trees, more intimate, where the evening arrives slowly, and dinner easily becomes a shared moment, with a glass of wine and a conversation that seems endless.La Furbina, with its large porch overlooking the pool and countryside, invites outdoor living without overthinking it. The table is there, the view is open, everything encourages slowing down.Then there are smaller homes with wide views stretching to the sea, where dinner is more intimate, almost silent, with the light and sounds of the countryside as a backdrop.Il Castagno, on the hills of Camaiore, is one of those places. An old house surrounded by olive trees and terraces, with open views and sunsets over the sea.Slow evenings, outdoor dinners, fresh air, the pleasure of dining without hurry, the sound of silence, and light giving way to the night: wasn’t this what you were looking for?Evenings like these are what make a holiday in Tuscany truly special. Our homes are meant to be lived this way: among gardens, terraces, porches, and tables under the stars. Choose yours on Tuscanhouses.com.
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Lucca Visit Card: the easiest way to explore the city
Friday, March 20, 2026,
Planning a trip to Lucca but not sure where to start? Here’s a simple tip: begin with the Lucca Visit Card.
Exploring Lucca is easy with the Lucca Visit Card, an all-in-one pass that gives access to the city’s main museums, towers and landmarks. Designed to make your stay easier, is perfect for anyone who wants to explore Lucca’s rich cultural heritage without the hassle of booking each attraction separately. A simple and convenient solution that enhances your overall experience while giving you access to the city’s key highlights.A journey through history, art and beautyWith the Visit Card, you can access some of Lucca’s most iconic sites, each with its own story to tell.You can begin your walk at the Puccini Museum – Casa Natale, the birthplace of the renowned composer Giacomo Puccini, and then continue towards the remarkable Torre Guinigi, famous for its rooftop garden with oak trees.Between a history-filled museum and a panoramic tower, it’s worth slowing down and stopping at Taddeucci to taste the traditional Buccellato, fragrant with anise and raisins, and a small ritual that captures the city’s most authentic soul.Along the way, you’ll also come across the Torre delle Ore, the tallest of the more than 130 towers that once shaped Lucca’s medieval skyline.If you wish to dive deeper into the history of Lucca’s most powerful families, you can extend your route to the Museo Nazionale di Villa Guinigi which, together with the Museo Nazionale di Palazzo Mansi, offers a fascinating glimpse into the city’s noble residences and heritage.Continuing your walk, you’ll reach the Complesso museale ed archeologico della Cattedrale di Lucca, a rich concentration of sacred art and centuries of history.At this point, a peaceful break at the Orto Botanico di Lucca offers a moment of calm, surrounded by greenery in the heart of the city.On the opposite side of the historic center lies the Complesso della Basilica e Campanile di San Frediano, also known for its stunning mosaics.For those interested in ancient history, the walk can end with a visit to the Domus Romana di Lucca, offering a fascinating glimpse into Roman Lucca, before continuing to the Museo Antica Zecca di Lucca, which tells the story of the city’s economic and political past.Along the way, you might also treat yourself to another sweet stop at Caniparoli, a historic chocolate shop where chocolate has been handcrafted with the same passion for over thirty years.The Lucca Visit Card becomes, in this way, a simple and enjoyable way to experience the city, guided by curiosity, beauty, and the pleasure of discovering something new at every step.Lucca is a city to be discovered slowly, one step at a time. Find the home that lets you experience it at your own pace on Tuscanhouses.com.
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Lucca and surroundings: the perfect slow Tuscany escape
Wednesday, March 11, 2026,
A journey through Lucca’s historic centre and the surrounding countryside, discovering homes, villas and the quiet rhythm of a true slow Tuscany escape.
There are places in Tuscany that reveal themselves slowly. Lucca is one of them.At first glance it may seem simply a perfectly preserved Renaissance town, enclosed within its ancient walls, set between gentle hills and the sea. But spend even a short holiday here, walk through its quiet streets or stop in a small square where everyday life unfolds without hurry, and it quickly becomes clear that Lucca is much more than that.This elegant corner of Tuscany has long been loved by those looking for a different way of travelling: an experience built not around busy itineraries, but around the simple pleasure of enjoying a holiday at a slower pace.The beauty of Lucca lies in its balanceInside the historic walls, the city moves with a natural calm. Choosing a home in Lucca’s historic centre means waking up in the morning and beginning the day among soft conversations and the gentle clinking of coffee cups in the cafés.You might cross the city by bicycle, riding peacefully along its cobbled streets, stopping at the small neighbourhood shops that have existed for generations, where locals still pause to exchange a few words.The city walls welcome joggers and cyclists commuting to work. Walking past medieval towers you eventually arrive at the famous Piazza dell’Anfiteatro, and by climbing Torre Guinigi you can enjoy a sweeping 360-degree view that begins with the rooftops of the city and stretches across the surrounding countryside.This is the Lucca most visitors first discover, a place that never fails to surprise with its beauty.Then there is the Lucca of everyday life: the markets (including the Mercato Antiquario Lucchese, which fills the historical centre with stalls on the third Sunday of each month and the Saturday before) the shops where you can truly find everything, and the restaurants that still preserve the flavours of traditional Lucchese cuisine.Among our favourites are Gli Orti di Elisa, a place we can now consider something of a local institution, and Osteria La Dritta, a newer and more contemporary restaurant with an urban feel that we are certain will soon earn a special place in the city’s dining scene.Where to stay in LuccaStaying in the centre of Lucca means experiencing the city as those who live here do.Among the homes available in Lucca’s historic centre, Casa Lilla, for example, is perfect for those who want to explore the city on foot. It sits just a few steps from Via Fillungo and the beautiful Piazza dell’Anfiteatro. This classic Tuscan house is arranged over three levels and has been tastefully restored while preserving its original architectural features. On the ground floor there is a secure space for bicycles, ideal for exploring the city on two wheels, while at the top of the house a small private terrace overlooking the rooftops offers the perfect setting for an evening aperitivo at sunset, surrounded by the atmosphere of Lucca.Another beautiful option in the historic centre is Casa Lauren, located inside the majestic Palazzo dei Nobili, once home to the Banca d’Italia. Here historic elegance blends with modern comfort. The Tessieri marble floors run throughout the apartment in refined geometric patterns, echoing the spirit of old Lucca. Staying here means experiencing the quiet charm of the historic centre, with everything just a short walk away.Villas and countryside near LuccaJust beyond the city walls, the Lucca countryside opens into gentle hills, vineyards, olive groves and medieval villages that seem suspended in time. Here Tuscany reveals its most authentic and unhurried side, perfect for anyone looking for a true slow Tuscany escape.Mornings begin with open windows and warm air drifting in from the garden. The day may unfold with the discovery of a hidden hilltop village, a long outdoor lunch beneath ancient olive trees, and a quiet moment on the terrace, while evenings stretch slowly under vine-covered pergolas, accompanied by the golden light of sunset.Staying in the Lucca countryside offers something many travellers are increasingly looking for: space, silence and the feeling of living within the landscape, rather than simply visiting it.What makes Lucca truly special is the sense of authenticity it conveys. Life here moves at a human pace: bakeries open early in the morning, trattorias serve recipes that have not changed for decades, and evenings still belong to the simple ritual of a stroll through the piazza before dinner.It is a place where slowing down feels natural, and where every stay, whether in the city or in the countryside, becomes a slow experience that stays with you.Choosing a villa near Lucca allows you to experience Tuscany in a more personal and unhurried way, guided more by curiosity than by schedules.In the countryside around Lucca you will find many homes that perfectly reflect the spirit of this landscape: old stone farmhouses, villas surrounded by olive groves and hilltop houses overlooking the valley.These are welcoming homes designed for outdoor living: shaded gardens, terraces where breakfast is enjoyed in the morning light, and large tables beneath pergolas where summer dinners stretch long into the evening.Many villas near Lucca offer a private swimming pool, perfect for cooling off on warm days and enjoying a glass of wine at sunset. Others, perhaps smaller and more intimate, simply offer the quiet of a garden, the scent of olive trees and the feeling of being immersed in nature.There is no single way to experience the Lucchese countryside. Some travellers look for a villa with a pool near Lucca where they can spend most of the day outdoors, while others prefer a house in the hills to use as a base for exploring villages and the surrounding territory. In both cases, what makes a stay here special is the same thing: a sense of space, light and time moving more slowly.Browse our homes in Lucca and the surrounding countryside and start planning your own slow escape in Tuscany.
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