Though my home sits in its own 400+ garden away from town I am only 10 min. drive from the main town of Bagni di Lucca. There you will find twice weekly market 2 grocery stores many local restaurants and pizzerias. And of couse the Spa and local pool featuring its own thermal water. The spa has 2 grottos with steaming thermal water and many treatments. All very affordable. The surrounding hills are dotted with small towns that make up the province. Walking between these towns is really a delight as they are all connected by ancient mule tracks called mulatiere. The area is filled with lakes rivers and gorgeous meadows. These towns hold many local summer festivals and markets open to all. IF you tire of all this the coast is 45 min-1 1/2 hour away depending on where you go. The Cinque Terre, Versiglia, which is the Riviera.As for cities Lucca half hour away is a lovely for shopping eating strolling and has top name Music feastivals all summer or Florence and Pisa (which has an international airport) about an hour away.

We are Marina and my daughter Alessia.We have lived between the USA and Italy most of our lives and have now chosen to live in this area for its natural beauty and quite village life yet its close proximity to Italys wonders. I am a free lance jeweler and designer. My daughter is a delightful bi lingual 11 year old who loves to explore new places. We love the idea of a home exchange as we hope we can share with like minded people. We feel being in someones home and exploring their world while at the same time sharing yours is a wonderful and more personal and respectful way to see the world.