Villa Colombai is the ideal accommodation for a family or group of friends up to 12 people who want to visit the main attractions of Tuscany, because of its strategic position only 5 km away from the highway connecting Florence, Pistoia, Montecatini (Thermal Baths), Lucca, Pisa, Viareggio (seaside), Forte dei Marmi and other famous places. During your stay we will be available for any request or necessity you may have, or to advise you concerning places to visit or tailor-made itineraries. We speak English and Italian. We also organise wine-tasting tours, chocolate-tasting tours, pecorino-tastings tours, cooking classes, our most famous Pizza Chef workshop, dinners and lunches at the villa with private chef, etc..
Villa Colombai is a luxury property in Tuscany, more than 100 years old.
Villa Colombai is located in the village of Orentano, in a borough named Colombai, only 18km away from Lucca. The villa has been thoroughly restored and equipped with an elegant swimming pool, entirely lined with authentic “travertine” stone, filled with salt water and recently (2019) equipped with a new heating system that let the water reach a temperature of 28° C (82,40° F) with an air temperature of 5° C (41° F). Moreover it has a pleasant whirlpool area on one side, amusing and refreshing. The luxury swimming pool measures 12 x 6 m, and varies from 1,10 m to 1,60 m of depth. By the pool there is an external warm shower to wash off the salt as soon as you come out of the pool. Around the pool there are parasols, deck chairs, sun beds and tables to sunbathe, relax and read. You can also have fun playing table tennis, table football or soccer in the field equipped with goals that is part of the large enclosed property of Villa Colombai. There is a playground area for small children in the garden. In 2016 we equipped the Villa with a traditional firewood oven near the solarium where our famous Pizza Chef Workshop takes place and a half bathroom.
Near the kitchen there is a wonderful very large veranda with a large travertine table and chairs, where you can sit, eat together, read or play cards after dinner. The veranda roof is made of wood and the barbecue will make your evenings unique. The garden is very large (12.000 sq.mt.), always well keept and totally fenced to guarantee your privacy and safety, especially of your children and family pets.
The villa is equipped with every comfort. There is a hi-speed internet Wi-Fi connection, both inside and outside the villa and there is an alarm system. The walls of our hundred-year-old villa are very thick so the temperature is pleasant in the rooms, however all six rooms in Villa Colombai have an advanced air comfort cooling and heating system (Daikin).
The entrance of the villa is on the ground floor and hosts a library which also contains maps, guide books and other useful information. The spacious lounge on the ground floor has three large sofas and ultra-modern 40” TV screen, full HD, Digital terrestrial television, Satellite television and CD-DVD players. The dining room on the ground floor has a table which can be extended up to 10 metres in length to comfortably seat 12 people (with a fireplace and easy access to garden and pool). On the ground floor there is the kitchen with a fireplace which can also be used as a barbecue. The kitchen is fully equipped with crockery and tableware of all sorts, cutlery, saucepans, frying pans and modern domestic appliances: a big refrigerator, a freezer, dishwasher, gas cooker, electric oven, microwave oven, electric kettle, toaster, blender, American coffee making machine (electric), “Lavazza” espresso machine (electric) and a traditional Italian coffee maker (“Moka” for use on a gas stove). Easy access from the kitchen on to the veranda with seating, tables and open air barbecue. On the ground floor there is also a full bathroom. You’ll also find a launderette area (with sink, washing machine, dryer, iron and ironing board)
On the first floor, you’ll find:
- The “Venus” suite: an elegant bed chamber and suite with a king size four-poster bed, a walk-in wardrobe and its own private bathroom with an original new (2019) Jacuzzi, twin hand basins, WC and bidet
- The “Bacchus” room: bedroom with king size bed and wall wardrobe
-The “Juno” room: bedroom with two single beds which can be joined to make a double bed
- An elegant blue bathroom with bathtub, WC, bidet and hand basin
On the second floor, you'll find:
- The “Concordia” room: bedroom with two single beds, wardrobe and chest of drawers
- The “Diana” room: very large bedroom with a king size bed, wooden cots for babies and infants with extra single bed if desired and a full new (2020) bathroom
- The “Attic” room: bedroom with wardrobe and two single beds which can be joined to make a double bed or if desired, to be turned into a living room with sofas
- A full bathroom with WC, bidet, shower and hand basin
The villa has been furnished very elegantly, accurately and with great attention to every detail. There are terracotta tiled floors, beamed ceilings, walls painted in pastel colours and frescos in several parts of the house, as well as mosquito nets at all windows.
There is a large car park for several cars within the property just behind the villa.
Villa Colombai is the perfect location to visit the main attractions of Tuscany, but at the same time guests can relax spending time around the luxury pool with whirlpool, in the very large garden, or in the beautiful veranda next to the barbecue and the kitchen. Small children can play in the playground especially made for them, and bigger children can play table tennis or soccer in the field that is also part of the property.
Within easy reach of the Villa there are grocery stores, cafes, a butcher and a traditional baker. There is also a well-known pastry shop still following an old tradition of pastry making.
In Orentano you will also find the Trattoria-Pizzeria da Benito, one of the most famous restaurants of the area. Their absolute specialty is the typical very thick grilled Tuscan steak, absolutely delicious at an affordable price, but they also serve traditional starters, pasta dishes and pizza. Remember to reserve a table in advance because the restaurant is always fully booked.
Within 15 km distance there are also a golf course, thermal resorts, tennis courts and many other activities.
Guided wine-tasting tours can be arranged for you, as well as any other activity you might be interested in. We can arrange visits to artisan ceramic or copper pot workshops, we can reserve concert or theatre tickets for you, etc… according to your interests.
We can also organize your wedding, anniversary, birthday party or other events and take care of all the details.
Here at Villa Colombai you can enjoy the wine and the olive oil produced not far from the villa or the typical food of our area – we can arrange to have groceries delivered to your door by the local shop keeper on his bicycle.
Orentano is well known for the “Sagra della pizza” – a pizza and beer festival where you can experience the hustle and bustle of Tuscan life and at the same time eat pizza or grilled meat and listen to music. The traditional local “Sagra” takes place throughout June and July.
The ancient pastry tradition of the village is celebrated every year with a local event called the “Cream puff Festival” (“Sagra del Bignè”) , on the third Sunday of August.
There are other “sagras” (festivals) of all kinds in neighboring towns and villages. There are also historical festivals like, for example, the Medieval Festival in Monte Castello, Lucca, Nozzano, Buti, and many other places which take place from May to September, but especially during the summer months of June, July and August.
Only 5 km from Orentano you can find the small town of Altopascio with all kinds of shops and a market on Thursdays. You can also find supermarkets and other stores (furniture, clothes, shoes, etc..).
From Altopascio you can catch a train or take the highway to go and visit Florence, Prato, Pistoia, Lucca, Montecatini, Viareggio, Pisa, and many other places. The famous historic and art cities of Florence, Pisa, Lucca, etc.. or the sea are within easy reach. The surroundings offer a lot for sport freaks and wellness lovers: tennis (4 km), golf course (15km), horse riding (5km), thermal resorts (15km) and fitness centres (7km).