We had a beautiful trip to Lucca and it was a pleasure to be your guest. We all, specially Emma - the Border Collie - enjoyed the stay in your house and garden! I'm sure we come back. Thanks a lot and we wish you the best. Greetings,
Mirjam, Gerda & Emma, Cologne, Germany - May 2006

'Partir c'est mourir un peut!' (To leave is to die a little.) This was my first time in Toscane. The two of you with your hospitality and beautiful home brought me a beautiful memory. With love,
Leontine & Jeoffrey, Breda & Rotterdam, The Netherlands - May 2006

Thank you very much for such a relaxing stay in your beautiful apartment. Booking something via the internet is always an unknown quantity. We arrived in anticipation - and were met with a wonderful surprise. Such comfortable beds, well equipped kitchen, luxurious bathroom, etc, etc...!! Thank you also for your kind and welcoming hospitality - we'll definitely be back - if that's ok?!
Ingrid, Mark and Maria, Cheltenham, England - June 2006

Thank you every so much for having us stay in your wonderful La Gattaiola! What beautiful surroundings. In fact this place is perfect for all purposes. With its situation it can be used as a base for visiting the classic Tuscan sites as well as the beaches...But not least, it can be used as a holiday site in its own right. With the nicest and friendliest hostesses. Only one thing lacking: the ability to make 7 days last longer... We will recommend La Gattaiola to friends and family, for sure!
Alberte, Helga, Thøger, Ejnar & Jeanette, Odense, Denmark - July 2006

The cases are all packed but we're very reluctant to leave La Gattaiola. We've had a wonderful holiday - very enjoyable and very relaxing. La Gattaiola has been a perfect base for us and surely has the best equipped holiday kitchen - ever! All the very best for the future, we hope our paths cross again.
Kaye, Ian, Duncan & Cathie, Scotland - August 2006

What a lovely time we have had whilst staying at La Gattaiola. A beautiful villa and beautiful surroundings. We have been able to visit many places from here and everyone really enjoyed it. Katie loved the pool! We wish you both all the very best and we will certainly be hoping to return.
Richard, Eileen, Richard, Bethany, Emily & Katie, Bournemouth, England - August 2006

We have had a very enjoyable fortnight at La Gattaiola and have made full use of this lovely house (and very well-equipped kitchen). We have had some lovely meals at Il Mecenate, Villa Bongi and Trattoria da Leo. We cycled round the walls of Lucca which was lovely and cool a hot day and Alex (2) made several trips to the playground beside the Porta San Donato. We've also done lots of day trips and taken full advantage of Lucca's excellent shops. Thank you very much for your hospitality.
Bobby, Norma, Kirsty, Lynne, John, Graham & Alex, Glasgow, Scotland - September 2006

Thank you so much for a lovely stay. La Gattaiola and its views, garden and two friendly cats [not ours, they belong to the neighbours!] made a perfect base for visiting northern Tuscany - we had ten of the most splendid October days in history and wandered about Lucca and Pistoia (great market on Wednesday and Saturday that fills the entire centre), Viareggio, Livorno (on a seafood eating expedition), Vinci, Volterra and San Gimignano - and found that no matter where you go, it's always easier to take the autostrada back at night! The house was always very welcoming to come back to after a long day on the road! Will recommend it to friends and readers. Thanks again.
Dana [Facaros] and Michael [Pauls], The Lot, South West France - October 2006
[authors of the Cadogan Guide to Tuscany plus around 40 other Cadogan travel guide titles!]

Es un casa preciosa situada en un lugar maravilloso. Los dueños y camareros del Mecenate son muy amables (es recommendable para cena). Gracias per todo.
Jose y amigos, Sagunto, España - October 2006

The discovery of Lucca was a real pleasure for us.  Beautiful city and sites amongst the splendid landscape of Tuscany which invited themselves through the large windows in La Gattaiola.

And we understand them!  This charming house, so well kept, is very attractive.  Our stay was enlightened by the famous British Art of Welcoming, with delightful home made breakfasts.

Thank you very much to the two Ladies Bowles for this sense of harmony in every detail and having looked after us in such an exquisite way.

Bernard and Anne Marie, Nice France - April 2007

Our first visit to Tuscany which, we hope, will not be our last.  La Gattaiola [is] an excellent base from which to sample the delights this region has to offer.  We are going home tired but very happy with a wealth of stories to recount in Suffolk.

We are deeply indebted to you both, Jean and Dianne, for the warmth of welcome and ready willingness to assist which has been unrivalled by any other we have experienced.

'The Dry Saga Party,' Lowestoft, Suffolk, England - April 2007

We have really enjoyed our stay at La Gattaiola, retreating to the quiet hills after busy days sightseeing in Lucca, Florence and Pisa.

Thank you, Dianne and Jean, for your hospitality and excellent recommendation of Villa Bongi - we had a fantastic meal - and used their signs to find our way home tonight!!

Best wishes from David, Liz, Sam, Kate and Jean, Brisbane, QLD & Launceston, TAS - June 2007

Thank you so much for the use of your delightful La Gattaiola.  Our experience here has been sensational!

We have never visited this part of Italy before and Gattaiola has certainly enlightened us to its wealth of wonders (for example, were you aware that the main local industry switched from silk to toilet paper - we didn't realise in medieval times people wiped their bottoms with silk - ROFL, LMAO, LOL!)  But seriously, it's been grand.  It's the best place we stayed in Tuscany....ever.  With all due respect. 

We will certainly be recommending you to all of the people we recall our gay tales of Tuscany to.  The world is quiet here and the climate was very agreeable (if a touch warm).

We hope you had a fantastic birthday, Jean, Nick certainly did, we bought him some knives from Lucca - he loves them.  Thanks again.

Life, peace and love from the Manson-Watson-Todmans, Newcastle under Lyme & upon Tyne - July 2007

All the six of us have been in seventh heaven here in La Gattaiola. The villa is situated just perfect[ly] in the middle of the countryside as if we were miles away from the big city.  very calming.  And very enjoyable to be able to be in Lucca in a few minutes.

Love from Skjøth Family, Copenhagen, Denmark - July 2007

The contrast between Yorkshire and here was extreme.  We left England after the wettest couple of months in 200 years so arriving here was bliss.

La Gattaiola is the best equipped holiday accommodation we have ever stayed in, we have greatly enjoyed cooking the wonderful local produce in the superb kitchen.

The bedrooms are all very comfortable and La Gattaiola is very much decorated with excellent taste and style.

The situation of La Gattaiola is pretty much ideal too, being rural but within easy reach of Pisa, Florence, Lucca and Siena.  All of which we visited - Florence twice and particularly liked Siena (it has the best signposts in Tuscany).

I did not enjoy driving on Tuscan roads, especially into and out of Florence.  The signposts are few and far between and so small that you are onto them before you see them.  The drivers are almost universally ill-mannered and aggressive so when someone is actually courteous it is very noticeable.

In Lucca, we enjoyed food very much at Da Leo (via Tegrini), Villa Bongi has a good view food less so, Mecenate is a bit hit and miss - some excellent some very mediocre but it is only 10 metres away!

Thank you very much to the ladies downstairs [and upstairs!] - we found the above-ground pool very adequate and didn't miss the grander planned pool at all.  We did miss having internet though [Available at supplement in owners' accommodation.].  Again thanks.

Spooner Family, Sheffield - July/August 2007

Thank you for your hospital in the charming La Gattaiola - we will miss the lovely view from our room.  The children had great fun in the pool and also enjoyed the beach at Marina de Vecchiano - see page 27 of Welcome Book.  We though Mecenate was good fun, albeit a little ambitious for our little adventurous eaters.  Make sure you ask the ladies about festivals (when all the shops shut) [actually not festivals but closed for the summer holidays!].  Lucca was a lovely place to visit - focus on the main shopping street, enter Lucca by the north entrance.  Pisa also good!  Otherwise, we've had a lovely, relaxing time.  Good luck in the future and thanks for all the tomatoes!

Price Family, Chalfont St Giles - August 2007

Thanks a lot for kind hospitality, very nice house, great location!  We enjoyed Lucca - especially biking along the walls.

Also very recommended is to travel to Cinque Terre north of La Spezia, 1 hour drive, beautiful villages.  Thanks again.

Biram Family, Israel - August 2007

We arrived late at night - in the dark - rather grumpy after a long drive from Bologna and getting lost in Lucca. [Top tip #1 - buy a map of Lucca, the free ones are misleading!]  However, we soon felt very at home in La Gattaiola and really appreciated its comforts.  Lucca has also really grown on us and we hope to come back at some point.  The best meal we had was at Villa Bongi - great food, lovely people and wonderful location.  Just make sure you get detailed instructions - but definitely worth the effort.  Also really enjoyed the Osteria di Meati and La Cecca restaurant - both more traditional than Villa Bongi.  Love holiday accommodation - and so well sited!

Fiona, Gary, Pam and Jamie, Guildford - August 2007