◀
▶
| Details | |
|---|---|
| Bedrooms | 10 |
| Bathrooms | 10 |
| Sleeps | 22 |
| Villa | |
| Suitability |
|---|
| No Smoking |
| FlipKey traveler rating |
| 9 reviews |
| Stayed here? Write a review. |
Get the real scoop!
All reviews are written by verified travelers
Details
| Rental type | Villa |
| Minimum Stay | 4 nights |
| Bedrooms | 10 Total |
| Bathrooms | 10 Total |
| Sleeps | 22 |
| Suitability |
Pet friendlyAsk Smoking allowedNo Suitable for childrenAsk Suitable for the elderlyAsk Wheelchair accessibleNo |
Description from the owner
Palazzo del Duca is an historical mansion in the northern part of Tuscany (Lunigiana area) just a few miles from the famous 5 Terre coast in Liguria region. The area where Palazzo del Duca is located is still undiscovered. It is a region gem-set between mountains and sea and it is perfect for both lovers of skiing and of sea. The family run Palazzo del Duca, an ancient palace of the 17th century belonged to the Este Family, is located in the heart of a lovely small 12th century village surrounded by woods of chestnuts and by the most untouched nature of Italy where the tranquillity and the silence reign. Nestled in a landscape rich in hist...Read more
Amenities
Location
Wonderful apartments in Tuscany close to 5 Terre
La Spezia, Liguria, Italy
What's Nearby:
Additional Location Information
Rates
Rates shown in $ USD (Rental listed originally in EUR) (change)
| Date | Weeknight | Weekend Night | Weekly | Monthly | Minimum Stay |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rate Summary | $647 | $647 | $5,110 - $6,792 | $0 | 4 nights |
| Nov. 16 2012 - Mar. 8 2013 | - | - | $5,110 | - | 7 nights |
| Mar. 23 2013 - Apr. 26 2013 | - | - | $5,499 | - | 7 nights |
| Apr. 27 2013 - Jun. 21 2013 | - | - | $6,404 | - | 7 nights |
| Jun. 22 2013 - Aug. 30 2013 | - | - | $6,792 | - | 7 nights |
| Aug. 31 2013 - Oct. 25 2013 | - | - | $6,404 | - | 7 nights |
| All Other Dates | $647 | $647 | $5,499 | - | 4 nights |
| Can't find rates for your travel dates? Contact the owner | |||||
Additional notes from owner
April, May, June 10% discount for one week booking - 20% discount for 2 weeks booking! Max. 20 people occupancy
Availability
AvailableUnavailable Last updated: April 11, 2013 ◀▶
What Past Guests Are Saying
Overall Rating
ExcellentVery Good
Average
Below Average
Poor
-
Susanna
TamperePerfect palazzio to spent a dream holiday in Italy
Left on 01/30/2013 for a stay in July 2012
We had an oppartunity to spent an unforgettable holiday in this place. The place is very peaceful. You can do a lot of hiking while enjoying breathtaking landscapes. We went some days at the beach so the sea is not too far away. We also visited cinque terre wich was an amazing place. The owner couple is extremely nice. They are very helpful and friendly and they made us feel really welcome. The wife is an outstanding cook! The food was truly delicious!! The husband gave us a winetasting, which was very interesting and professional without being too formal. I can highly recommend the place to anyone!!
-
Italophile
Boulder, CoUnspoiled Italy
Left on 03/02/2012 for a stay in June 2011
The Palazzo is a jewel of a vacation locale. I have spent a fair amount of time in Italy but I did not know such unspoiled lovely places still existed there. The village is quaint; the Palazzo is majestic but the apartments still manage to be homey (very clean and comfortable); the surrounding area is wild and gorgeous. Mirella and Francesco are the most gracious hosts you could hope to find--truly charming old-school Italians who make you realize why Italy has been luring tourists for centuries. I highly recommend Francesco's wine tours-- he is very knowledgeable but not pretentious at all. All in all, one of the most welcoming destinations I have had the pleasure to experience as a traveler.
-
Tuscan traveller
BerkshireA little slice of Tuscan heaven - Luni apartment
Left on 02/21/2012 for a stay in July 2011
For the second year in succession we stayed in Luni apartment. The apartment is contemporary and the living/dining area is very spacious. The mezzanine lounge area is perfect for a quiet read or drinking and chatting. Bathroom huge!! Comfortable beds. The property itself was clean and well maintained. As in the first year we were warmly welcomed by Mirella and Francesco - more so in the second year; it was like visiting friends. Both can give lots of information on the local area and nothing is too much trouble it seems. Tavernelle itself is well placed for visiting lesser known but amazing places which often are not found in (British) guidebooks - maybe I'll write one! Beaches are a short drive away, Cinque Terre is well worth a trip and I would advise taking the train from aulla - you don't have to worry about parking then! Pisa, Lucca, Viareggio and other places are all accessible too.
What we loved about the apartment and location was the feeling of being away from the hustle and bustle but not being isolated. There are fabulous walks around. But what made it all special were Mirella's evenings when she cooked for the guests. Wonderful, local food, excellent wine, and a great chance to chat with other guests, most of whom were other Europeans. One particular evening we had German, Dutch, Russian Scottish and English guests. Great for discussions over bruschetta, local pecorino, salted olives , wine etc . A bread van comes most mornings - listen out for the horn. For supermarket shopping though you do need to drive to aulla where you have a few to choose from
The pool is a good size for the apartment but is cool. Herbs grow in the garden with lavender and makes for a heavenly aroma. There is a local bar within easy walking distance and does good rustic food (portions are huge, be very hungry or share!).
Would we recommend - yes and we have. Will we go back? Yes - For sure.
-
Marian
Melbourne AustraliaA Real Treasure
Left on 02/19/2012 for a stay in September 2011
I consider it good fortune to have stayed at Palazzo Del Duca on two occasions. It's the perfect spot for the independent traveller. You can choose any number of directions to head of in and see vastly different areas. Head south to the Ligurian coast or north to the mountains. There's a great local restaurant offering simple but delicious food or you can venture further afield to nearby towns. It's also well set up for those who prefer to self cater. It's evident that the hosts Mirella & Francesco love their Palazzo and what you to love it too. They will go out of their way to be of assistance. I will gladly return. Next time I hope to be there in Winter to experience skiing on the local slopes.
-
Jim
Boulder, COBeautiful palazzo, wonderful region
Left on 02/17/2012 for a stay in June 2011
I love this place! The owners are the nicest people in the world. Mirella and Francesco speak English well, and Francesco, a trained sommelier, gives outstanding wine tours. Visiting Lunigiana is like stepping back in time, before Tuscany became over-crowded with tourists. Amazing mountain scenery yet close to the sea. Highly recommended.
-
John
Tulsa, OK, USAA Dream Holiday
Left on 11/25/2011 for a stay in October 2011
We drove up a mountain with horseshoe shaped curves, past waterfalls and soothing fall colored foliage with magpies flitting among the branches. We took a turn past a small bar, which serves one of the best cappuccinos in Italy; drove toward a tiny medieval town. After a short walk down cobbled streets, barely wider than outstretched arms, passing attached stone buildings and arches that seemed to be put in place by no discernible plan, but all fitting together with such beauty that shivers went up your spine, we reached our destination.
Knocking with a large brass ring on the huge wooden doors of a summer palace of one of the Dukes d'Este, we were greeted by the enchanting current owners who assisted us up over worn granite steps to our brilliantly renovated suite. Openings from which arrows were fired in earlier days, now covered with stained glass.
The next day it rained as I, in reverie, walked up and down the serene ancient streets with my umbrella.Plants in containers and growing from crevices in the rock walls were draping over every structure as an accompaniment for the flowers on every balcony and stoop.
The following days it turned sunny. Rain followed by sun was good for the mushroom crop according to a local at the bar as the beautiful apennine Mountains came into view.
We toured wine cellars owned by the "Duke” while receiving entertaining and knowledgeable instructions.
And watched and were entertained as the current "Duke and Duchess” cooked for us, using lovely wine (with more than a a wee bit for our pleasure) and olive oil grown and produced by the father of the Duchess. The Duke's always jovial enthusiasm and the Duchess' warm laugh would replace Mona Lisa's grin with a full toothed smile and would encourage Michelangelo's David to put on some trousers and come to the table.
-
Jenna
Portland, ORA wonderful place to discover the "real" Italy
Left on 10/14/2011 for a stay in July 2011
What an amazing place! If you're looking to get away from the crowds and experience the real small towns of Italy, and yet still want some luxury, this is exactly what you're looking for. This really is an off-the-beaten-track place. It's best to have a car here, but getting to stay in this beautiful palazzo as a basecamp while exploring all the surrounding small towns was worth the drive. The town is right next to a national forest where we went hiking and stumbled on to tiny little villages where no one spoke English. At the same time, you're only a 30 minute drive from Cinque Terre.
And whatever you do, make sure you have Mirella cook at least one dinner for your group if she is willing. If you're lucky, she may even make you some sgabei (fried savory dough you stuff with cheese) amazing!!!
There were 20 of us and we rented the entire place. Because the palazzo is split up into separate apartments, it was the perfect mix of getting to all stay together in a shared space, but also having our own privacy. We were there a week and wished we could have stayed longer. We spent most days exploring the small surrounding towns and then came back in the heat of the afternoon to drink wine by the pool. It doesn't get much better than that!
The palazzo is beautiful, clean, and well cared for. It is, however, nearly 500 years old (I read it was once the summer home of the duke of Parma), so don't be expecting high-end modern luxury (no huge bathrooms with steam showers here). But it does have all the amenities you'll need (kitchen, private baths with showers, comfortable beds, etc). It's more "castle" than "four seasons resort".
The property, the town, and surrounding location are all fantastic, but it's really Mirella and Francesco's hospitality that made our vacation so wonderful. They really love this place and want to share their love of food, wine, and the beautiful country with you. We would come back in a heartbeat. -
Paul Pearson
Dudley, West Midlands, United KingdomWonderful setting for our daughters blessing
Left on 09/15/2010 for a stay in August 2010
What a wonderful place to stay at Pallazo del duca.
Our family travelled from England to the Pallzzo in a minibus. We arrived late at night but Mirella had everthing in place& ready for us. Mirella made a four course meal for with local organic food & wine for my sister in laws birthday.
What a fantastic meal we had, Mirella is a fantastic cook.
We attended a blessing for my daughter Hayley as she married an Italian who,s family lived in a village nearby.
We would gladly recommend Pallazz Del Duca a perfect place to explore surrounding areas (Pisa, Lucca etc)
Will go back one day (but fly to Pisa next time).
You will enjoy your time there -
JB
SuisseAn authentic taste of tuscany in a beautiful setting.
Left on 09/13/2010 for a stay in May 2010
We stayed at the palazzo in May of this year and had a wonderful time. I highly recommend taking the tuscan cooking course and eating at least one meal at the palazzo. The owner is an awesome cook and the food was all fresh and from the area as well as mostly organic. It was so nice to be able to relax and enjoy our meal in privacy each evening which allowed the children to get up and move around if they needed to. We weren't stuck in a stuffy restaurant. The wine selection wasn't bad either! The man of the house is very knowledgable about wine and took us on a private tour of two vineyards. We have two young children and were able to see everything we wanted. I can't say enough about the owners and their amazing hospitality. My sister wanted to stay somewhere with a lot of character and old world charm and that is exactly what we got. We did have one problem with the shower in our apartment and within minutes of us notifying the owners it was fixed. The pool is a nice size and brand new, but it was still too cold for us to enjoy it in May. You are about 30-45 minutes drive to Cinque Terre which we didn't mind as we liked staying in the mountainside and visiting the seaside during the day. We also visited Pisa and Luca from here which was about 1.5 hours. Not a bad day trip. We really enjoyed this trip and hope you find yourself there soon!
Also Consider
FlipKey has rentals in over 11 destinations around the world:
-
Tuscany villas
5,319 rentals from $312/night -
Riomaggiore vacation rentals
12 rentals from $79/night -
Manarola vacation rentals
24 rentals from $107/night -
Corniglia vacation rentals
7 rentals from $98/night