General Description
Other than birds and soft breezes, the only sounds you may hear are the bells of sheep gently grazing the pastures below. Total tranquility envelops this place.

Did I save the best for last? You bet I did! The views are magnificent. Mountains, green, lush and dotted with hill towns rise up around you. On its high perch, il Sogno affords unending vistas and pleasant temperatures. Closer in, the villa itself is awash in lavender, rosemary, thyme and olive trees. It's like a painting, a dream, hence the name il Sogno.

The swimming pool, on a level behind and above the house, is furnished with seating under shady pergolas. Like the villa, it is totally private and overlooks the entire valley. Within an ivy covered courtyard, there is an outdoor Jacuzzi set by an ancient stone wall.

At Villa il Sogno, the interiors rival the views. Every comfort is here. A gourmet kitchen of inlaid marble is fit for a Michelin chef and lacks nothing at all. The main living room, as well as the rest of the house, is beautifully decorated with antiques, works of art and extremely comfortable furniture. The views from the main and upper level living rooms defy description. Il Sogno has a separate fax line, a PC with high speed Internet access, a multi-room sound system with multiple CD players, satellite television, fireplaces, wood stoves, screens on the bedroom and kitchen windows, a washer and dryer and more.

All of the rooms are well proportioned, and the mattresses, baths, linens and fluffy towels are all above par. It would take a book to detail all the comforts of this home. Il Sogno reflects the impeccable sense of style of its well traveled, American owner. This villa was never intended as a holiday home. We are fortunate to have it.

A maid attends to the villa three hours per day, four days a week. If requested when booking, the services of a cook may be arranged.

Villa il Sogno is a non-smoking house and due to its elevation, children from ages two through eight are not allowed.

Bagni di Lucca, with restaurants and shops, is within three miles. This ancient spa town was favored by Byron, Shelley, Strauss, Liszt and scores of royalty.

Medieval Barga, 30 minutes away, hosts numerous summer opera and jazz festivals. It is the most Scottish town in Italy, where bagpipes and tartan are plentiful, and a two week fish & chips festival in early August gets celebrated with barrels of Chianti. Lucca is also within a 30 minute drive; Pisa, Carrara or the Ligurian coast: 60 and Florence: 90. Assuming, of course, that once you get here, there could be a more beautiful place to go.

Technical Description
Lower level: Smaller living room with door to a courtyard. One bedroom with a queen size bed, frescoed wall and private balcony. One bathroom with tub and hand shower. Two bedrooms each with two single beds. Half bath. Accessed from the courtyard or by separate internal stairs is one bedroom with a queen size bed. One bathroom with tub and hand shower. Some of the bedrooms have ornamental fireplaces.

Main level: From the furnished courtyard with outdoor Jacuzzi, entrance into a furnished hall. Large kitchen with six burner stove top, oven, microwave, fridge, dishwasher, espresso maker, Cuisinart and doors to furnished courtyard, 18th-century oven and fountain. An archway separates a small dining room. Main dining room with a huge picture window that opens. Main living room. Study with fireplace, PC, TV, fax machine and door to the outside. Smaller living room with fireplace, TV and stairs to private loggia. One bedroom with queen size bed, walk-in closet and en suite bathroom with two sinks, tub and separate shower. One bathroom with shower.

Upper level: Small living/dining room with large panoramic window. Kitchen area with six burner stove top, toaster oven, fridge and dishwasher. Two bedrooms each with a queen size bed and en suite bathroom, one with tub and separate shower, the other with tub and two separate showers. Lower level: Laundry room with washer/dryer.