14 guests

Rising gracefully amidst picturesque parkland, Villa Lenka stands as a noble 17th-century estate, offering the discerning traveler an epitome of Tuscan opulence in an atmosphere of refined sophistication, boasting seven sumptuous guestrooms to accommodate up to 14 guests. The expansive, fresco-adorned chambers, adorned with antique furnishings, exude an aura of timeless elegance where contemporary comforts seamlessly merge with the storied legacy of this ancestral abode.
Every corner of the villa exudes charm and character, from its grand reception areas comprising a splendid drawing room, cozy TV lounge, card room, traditional Tuscan kitchen, intimate breakfast nook, to the stately dining hall. Nestled amidst serene Italian gardens, traversed by a babbling brook that meanders into two quaint lakes, shaded by graceful weeping willows, the villa offers a tranquil sanctuary. Towering cypress trees, fragrant lemon groves, and aromatic herb gardens form an enchanting backdrop to the secluded swimming pool, inviting guests to bask in idyllic moments of relaxation and refinement.
Constructed in 1624, Villa Lenka is ensconced in a lush valley within the southern hills of Lucca, serving once as the summer retreat of Count Cosimo Bernardini. Renowned for their prominence, the Bernardini family boasted several palazzos in the city center, along with numerous villas dotting the surrounding hills. Their legacy extends through centuries of governance, with the family members serving as Gonfaloniers of the Republic, from Giovanni in 1388 to Cosimo in 1798.
Even amidst political changes, such as Napoleon’s installation of his sister, Elisa Bonaparte, and her husband Felice Baciocchi as rulers of the Principality of Lucca in 1805, the Bernardini family remained influential. Federico Bernardini assumed the role of camp assistant to Felice Baciocchi, the Duke of Lucca, while Eleonora de Nobili served as the “dame de compagnie” to Duchess Elisa Bonaparte, sister of Napoleon.