Along winding lanes among olive groves and on the hillside of a lush green valley, this 17th-century villa and farmhouse have been in Ben’s family for 20 years and he’s restored the buildings with the utmost care, creating the atmosphere of a well loved home. The airy drawing room is welcoming with its antique furniture, rugs and wall hangings, the library cosy with its armchairs and book-lined walls. Comfy bedrooms are filled with treasures and have spotless en suite bathrooms. Once you’ve breakfasted on the terrace you could simply relax, but there’s much to tempt you away from the poolside; painting and sculpture courses, yoga and cooking classes, a baby grand piano to play, outdoor pizza cookery, home cinema, table tennis and football. Lucca is a 20-minute drive away and you can rent Ben’s 1970s sports car and whizz down to Forte dei Marmi on the coast, before returning for dinner and a glass of wine under the pergola.
We recently had the pleasure of staying at Casa Berti for a 10 day artist retreat. My husband enjoyed the plein air and studio painting while I relaxed after 2 weeks of busy sightseeing in Italy. The accommodations were very comfortable, the views were fantastic, and the food was so delicious. Ben made us feel right at home. We would love to return in the future and bring some of our family.