▲After leaving the motorway at LUCCA ovest, keep following the signs for LUCCA ovest to the RIGHT - drive slowly so that you don't miss the signs and turnings.
▲Follow the signs to the RIGHT for LUCCA city centre and brown sign Informazioni - NB the turning comes up quickly!
▲Almost immediately follow the signs to the LEFT for LUCCA city centre and v.le Einaudi
▲You will come to a crossroad very soon. TURN LEFT here at the traffic lights (a sign on the right (see above photo) indicates the villages Gattaiola and Meati)
▲The above house is situated at the turning and in front of it is a sign for Ristorante Mecenate
▲You will then pass the above building on your right which is a small alimentari (grocers) and tobacconist
▲With Bar Ildo on the left hand side, pass under the motorway bridge and you will immediately come to a fork in the road signposted to Ristorante Mecenate (yellow sign – see above and Villa Il Nonno B&B) – follow these signs and take the road to the LEFT
▲You will then pass over a bridge and reach the junction shown above where Ristorante Mecenate is indicated (to the right of photo). TURN RIGHT and then TURN LEFT
▲Take the road over the small bridge over the canal and you will then reach the bus stop for Gattaiola (in photo above on left). TURN RIGHT. The road now starts to climb
▲Once you reach the top TURN to the LEFT doubling back on yourself. Ristorante Mecenate is signposted here – see photo with sign on wall outside abandoned small church
▲Follow the road which has the walls to Renaissance villas either side of it and once you reach the final sign for Villa Il Nonno on the right, bear to the left passing a pink painted house. Continue until you come to the church of Gattaiola on your right – drive straight past taking the road where it narrows into a country lane and is walled either side – start tooting the car horn or, if after dark, flash your headlamps!
▲You will soon see a small bridge which passes over the lane (see above)
▲As soon as you pass under the bridge you will see a house immediately ahead which leads to the RIGHT into a courtyard. Take this RIGHT fork, driving past Ristorante Mecenate and into the courtyard. Park to the left of the vases of flowers where there is a VW Golf Estate under the palm tree. [DO NOT drive past the well on your right and if you reach a gravel road which bears to the right you have driven too far!] You have arrived at the farmhouse at LA GATTAIOLA. Welcome!