Dating back to the 18th century, Villa Marlia is an impossibly dreamy stone villa in the Tuscan countryside that is the epitome of what many think of when they imagine the perfect escape in Tuscany. Located 12km from the ancient town of Lucca, built into a lush hillside with greenery and trees all around, Villa Marlia boasts stunning interiors, an incredibly pretty garden, impeccable amenities including a private pool, and much more besides. Sleeping up to 18 guests comfortably in eight bedrooms with eight bathrooms, it is a truly magical luxury villa with pool in Tuscany the ideal base from which to enjoy and explore Tuscany if you are travelling in a larger group and want to do so in serious luxury and cinematic style.
Located 37km from the town of Viareggio and 44km from Forte dei Marmi, along the Tuscan Coast with all of her gorgeous beaches, 39km from the town of Pisa with its iconic Leaning Tower 75km from Florence, and 76km from the picturesque medieval town of San Gimignano, Villa Marlia has the most desirable attractions of the region within easy distance for shorter and longer day-trips. The house itself, however, is located in a peaceful spot, far removed from hustle and bustle, where tranquillity and relaxation are guaranteed.
The stunning gardens and grounds, meanwhile, ensure that guests are able to really make the most of this gorgeous rural location. In a panoramic spot among the rolling green hills for which Tuscany is so well-known, the large garden is spread over multiple levels with citrus trees, lawns, climbing plants, aromatic plants, various outdoor areas for dining and lounging, and more. The private pool is surrounded by a perfectly manicured green lawn and features sunbeds, parasols, a hammock, a lounging area under a gazebo, and more for long days relaxing in and by the water and in the sun or the shade. Next to the pool there is also a pool house set into the hill and surrounded by climbing blooms that boasts a changing room, a bathroom with a shower, and a fridge, making those days by the pool all the more comfortable and pleasant.
Many more stunning areas have been set up in the gardens at Villa Marlia to maximise your comfort and enjoyment during your holiday in Tuscany, however. There is a relaxing decked area on a platform that allows guests to lounge about while taking in sweeping views over the branches of surrounding trees. In the dreamy little glasshouse, artists can set up a temporary studio and be inspired by the surrounding landscape and scenery, book-lovers can escape for a while to read, or yogis can go enjoy their practice in a truly magic setting. On the patio where there is another lounge area with sofas, you can sip glasses of wine and chat late into the night. Under the veranda, these is a lovely area with a dining table and another out in the open by the glasshouse that have been set up for long meals al fresco. Both a barbecue and a wood-burning oven - for making perfect pizza the way the locals do - are available for use by guests as well.
While you could basically live out in the magical garden at Villa Marlia with all of its bells, whistles, amenities, and features, the house itself also welcomes guests and leaves them never wanting to depart. Spread over three floors, this beautiful property dates back to the 18th century and maintains traditional Tuscan features such as original stone walls, exposed wooden ceiling beams, and beautiful terracotta floors. While it also has a very distinct Tuscan flair and style, with a wonderful curation of antiques used throughout, the house has been renovated and modernised and has all of the mod-cons that you could ask for including having WIFI available all throughout the house and air-conditioning in all of the bedrooms.
Throughout the house there are multiple rooms for relaxing and enjoying the gorgeous interiors. There is a cosy living room with a massive fireplace, a comfy sofa, elegant armchairs, another area with a sofa and television, interesting works of art and antiques, and plush carpets as well as a direct exit out onto the patio with the lounge area. In another of the living rooms, there is another fireplace and gorgeous sitting area in front of it with a massive couch and an armchair as well as another sofa, a desk, a card table, and more in addition to a charming gallery library looking down on the room. The bright dining room is a cheerful place to eat if you want to do so indoors, although there is also a dining table in the pretty country-style kitchen. Full of charm, this kitchen looks incredibly traditional but has all you could need including an oven, stove, double fridge-freezer with an ice-maker, a dishwasher, microwave, and toaster as well as direct access onto the veranda with the outdoor dining area, making it easy to bring meals out into the garden. A separate laundry room has a washing machine and dryer.
On the first floor, you will find the five bedrooms: a double en suite with a bathtub, a twin room with an en suite, a twin with an en suite including a bathtub, a double with a private terrace, and a twin room that shares access with this double to a bathroom. The top floor meanwhile, has a study with a desk, fireplace, and a double sofa bed, another double bedroom, a bathroom, and a massage room.
An independent apartment (that is not internally connected to the rest of the house) has two bedrooms, a double and a twin, with a bathroom with a shower equipped for use by disabled guests. There is a very low step in this apartment so it is not fully wheelchair friendly but is ideal for those with minor mobility issues or older guests who don’t want to have to deal with stairs.
Available from €1388 per night, Villa Marlia truly is a dream villa in Tuscany, which is why it currently has just one week free in July and two in August for summer 2025. If you want to experience it for yourself with a gang of your nearest and dearest, be sure to book soon with Tuscany Villas or you might miss out on this incredible gem!
