Relais La Cappella

The route up deserves care: after leaving the main road, the way to the hotel gets very narrow, with blind corners. In distance it’s fairly close to Lucca, but that last stretch is a different matter. Once there, you can linger by the pool or at an outdoor table and enjoy the lovely views over Lucca and the surrounding mountains. The hotel itself is stunning inside and out, with a large, very comfortable reception room and more space on the ground floor. The owner and staff are always cheerful, which gives the place a nice atmosphere. Two dogs and a cat make themselves at home too, adding to the relaxed, family feel.

The food was the best part of our Italian vacation. We had breakfast and dinner there every day, and the staff made it all feel special. Ambra, the house dog, wanders around to greet visitors :). The views are gorgeous, and the rooms are spotless, romantic, and full of vintage charm. It was a dream Tuscan getaway. The winding road up is narrow and takes some nerve, but staying somewhere like this is worth the effort.

The rooms are spacious and charming, and you feel at ease as soon as you arrive. The staff are incredibly friendly, and the setting has a beautiful view. The pool is fine, though the sunbeds could be more comfortable. There’s a small lunch and dinner menu, which is handy since the nearest restaurants are 15 min down the steep, winding climb. The dishes taste good and suit the place. Breakfast is à la carte, with lots of attention to detail.

They even put together breakfast for us to take along when we had to leave early, before the kitchen usually opens. The hotel dinners were fresh and excellent, and the staff were friendly and very accommodating. A standout place to stay.