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| "La Fortuna Aiuta Gli Audaci" Fortune Favours The Bold. How true this is! On a beautiful summers day, with literally not a cloud in the sky, as we just drove past the walled-city of Lucca, in Tuscany, we spied a tiny wooden board with a drawing of a bed printed on it. Following our instincts, we decided to investigate. Having no hotel reservations in hand, we were as free as where the road would take us, & where destiny awaits. |
In this part of Italy,
every town is a sight to behold.
Every corner,
a pleasure to the eyes.
And in summer,
the light enhances everything.
Sunflower fields
shine & glow
like a painters palette radiating
every shade of yellow.
We drove up a rather winding
narrow road,
no wider than
two Fiat's width,
& marvelled at the sight around us.
Villas in all shape and sizes,
perched
on olive groves & fruit orchards.
The sky a brilliant blue
&
the land green
with seasonal bounty.
Passing under the
shadow of an old church here
&
an ancient cemetery there,
&
after several minutes of
"spectacular"
uphill driving,
we finally came up to a
tall wrought iron gate.
Little did we know that we've arrived at
La Cappella!
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| Built as a Convent in the seventeen century, it's now a bed & breakfast run by the present owners. Nestled on the hills & a mere seven kilometers from Lucca, this remarkably charming Villa, simply takes your breath away. Sitting almost at the top, with a view of the landscape below, La Cappella transports you immeditely to the romantic ideals of villa-living... Italian style! The three storey building, constructed in traditional Italian architecture from that period, opens out to a lush garden attended to daily by two gardeners. Bougainvilleas burst forth in abundance, lavender bushes jostle in the wind & grape vines hang casually from timber beams. Tall cypress tress stand proud everywhere & on the hills around, other villas sit silently. Up here, high above everything else, the breathtaking vista lulls us away into the wonderment that is the Italian countryside. |
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| Her name is Maria Ludoveca Ceschi a Santa Croce. And her personality is as formidable as her name. But she's simply known as Vicky. Born in the grand ancient city of Vicenza, near Venice, the lady of the house has travelled the world. Prior to this present lifestyle, Vicky was an international make-up artist, working mainly for Italian Vogue & with a multitude of famous photographers, that brought her everywhere. Travelled has taught her many things but style is something you're born with. Today, among her garden of delights, she runs this terribly charming B & B. Where bees fly from bloom to bloom & butterflies dart here, there & everywhere. Lazy fluffy clouds drift by above, and the breeze a strong fragrant mix that could be simply called... "eau de everything"! |
What's your favourite colour?
All of them.
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| What's missing in the world? Peace. |
What can you add to your day?
If I could have an hour to read a book...
 |
| Favourite song? My life is filled with music... Iggy Pop's " The Passenger". |
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| What are you reading...? Dalai Lama's writings about peace. |
What's next?
Greece.
 |
| Where do you call home? I still have strong feelings about my hometown but I call home wherever I am. We should be detached from objects... & where my dogs are. |
Biggest challenge of the day?
To make the people I meet happy.
One word to describe yourself?
Open.
What keeps you awake at night?
Worries basically...
 |
| Coffee or tea? Coffee. |
What irritates you?
Abusive & close minded people.
Pearls or emeralds?
Emeralds.
How many languages do you speak?
Three.
 |
| Silk or denim? Cotton & linen. |
Favourite holiday destination?
Greece.
As a child, what were your aspirations?
To be a rock star in a band!!
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| If there is one thing you would change about yourself...? My hair...it's too short & has to be longer at the back. |
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| Most memorable trip? Africa.  |
When would you give all this up?
Anytime!
...and onto another project!
The couple met on a boat somewhere in
Greece.
Her husband Pietro is from
Lucca
&
Vicky wanted a house large enough to
house her entire family when they visit.
"By coincidence & sheer luck, we found this place
which was a Convent until the 1920's.
It was badly neglected & the house was not understood.
We invested
care & love
and now there is a balance between
house & owners".
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| Our 5 nights at La Cappella came & went quickly. It was a joy to return "home" each evening after a day's excursion into the neighboring towns. The lady of the house has a nonchalant coolness about her. It translates well into her surroundings. Bold,beautiful & exacting are words I would use to describe this woman of substance. Time does not stand still as one would imagine. Yet, when you're walking around the well kept garden, your thoughts slow down to a quiet murmur. Your walk becomes a gentle stroll. Amongst the rose bushes, you sit reading surrounded by Nature's pride & joy. Listening to the land brings forth a sense of relaxation. " Love and understand the Italians, for the people are more marvellous than the land." E.M. Foster |
" The greatest joy from
La Cappela
is when I meet enthusiastic people.
Sharing this house & giving
without expectations.
But when the return comes...
it's pure adrenalin!"
On our last morning,
Vicky
joined us for breakfast.
We talked at length, over strong coffee,
about
life, living & beauty.
Her gesticulations are purely
Italian
but her ideas & thoughts are
global.
We were en route to
Florence
and somehow,
we did not want to leave.
The magic was upon us.
We drove
out & beyond those
wrought iron gates,
winding downwards to the highway below,
passing
that old Church
&
that ancient cemetery.
I spied again that little
wooden sign that
brought us to a wonderful experience.
Unplanned.
Fortune Favours The Bold
indeed!
LaCappella
http://www.lacappellalucca.it
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Nice of you to write!