What Our Guests Say:
What Our Guests Say

Dear Nicky and Lindsey,

I have been blessed to be able to spend my time here at Villa S. Lucia!

This has been a time of peace, renewal, and growth. Your Italia is beautiful and gracious. I have truly enjoyed the views that change daily here. We’ve been watching a nesting seagull, as well as the turtles. I rescued one baby (maybe 2 inches across) from a dry bowl and I placed him safely under a bush. I find the people here friendly, so that it has been a joy to do the tourist sightseeing and Florence was wonderful and amazing. Elio has been a blessing to this house and all her guests.

Thank you,

Brenda Ann Gordon, Forth Worth, Texas


This blue page reminds me of the sea so I choose to say farewell on it. Thanks for such a marvelous week in Italy. For my first trip to Europe, it is an amazing and beautiful country to begin my travels. Your hospitality was wonderful and our trips to Florence, Volterra and Cinque Terre have left me with beautiful memories of Italy. Our hiking adventure in the local hills was magnificent too!

Ciao,

Diane - San Pedro Ca.


Dear Nicky and Lindsey,

our time with you is over and we are saddened to leave Castiglioncello and our new friends.

You both are the ultimate hosts an the month we have spent with you at your beautiful Villa on the sea will be one of our most cherished memories or our Italy adventure!

We so much appreciate your generosity in sharing your time, your knowledge of Bella Italia, its history and its people, and your wonderful hospitality and delicious cooking!

How can we ever forget our spirited political and economical conversations with Lindsey, our trip to the Archeological Museum in Rosignano Marittimo, gathering pine nuts and berries as you showed us the beautiful countryside - the roasted chestnuts and dessert with your cousin and your italian friends, and the numerous times Lindsey had to “hunker down” in the luggage area of the car so the six of us could go somewhere together in the car! You both are such kind, gentle and fun people, and we thank you so much for embracing us and welcoming us into your part of Paradise. We wish you good health, long lives and good times and we hope some day to have you visit us in Colorado!

Ciao and love,

Bill and Dawn Klein


Dear Nicky and Lindsey,

for two weeks John and I have lived in our little house by the sea!

We loved shopping for fresh fruits and vegetables and preparing meals in our cucina piccolo, washing clothes and hanging them in the sun was lovely … bright sun and turquoise sea!

We fed the turtles every day when they joined us on the terrace.

We explored the beaches and caught an octopus … several times ….!

We watched the sunset and went to sleep listening to the music of the sea.

And of course, we were enveloped by your love and generosity.

Santa Lucia is a special place. It’s beauty comes not only from the sea and gardens but from the sense of community and family.

Grazie Nicky and Lindsey for so generously sharing your home, feeding our bodies and hearts and helping to give us a wonderful holiday. Much love,

Virginia and John Urani - North Carolina


Dear Nicky and Lindsey,

what an amazing time we have had at your beautiful villa by the sea! Tom and I (and Kathy and Harry) thank you from the bottom of our hearts as you welcomed us as your guests in this incredible paradise. As I reflect on the last month, feeling unbelievably lucky that we were able to spend a month, I cannot think of a better place to celebrate Tom’s 50th and an early celebration of our 20 yr. Anniversary (Oct.8) Your Villa was beyond our expectations and imagination! We had the best of both worlds, tranquillity by the sea and travel but always knew we were “coming home” to our Pescatore! I will miss feeding your turtles and hope to return someday to see their babies! Grazie again to both of you for welcoming us so graciously, meeting your beautiful family and friends and making us feel so at home. We hope to be able to do the same in return when you come to Cape Cod.

Wilma and Tommy Vuono.


We have enjoyed every sunset, our drives through the Tuscan countryside and the luxury of being able to relax and read on the patio of the villa. This is a wonderful and special spot that we’ll treasure in our memories of Italy. Many thanks to Elio for his generosity.

Thank you for sharing your home

Andrea and Linden Hagans - Denver, Co.


What a special spot on this earth you have! We have loved the terrace at any time of the day. Our side trips through the countryside were easy because of the Villa’s location. We feel blessed to have been here.

Diane and Jim Huckabee


Dear Nicky and Lindsey,

thank you for sharing your piece of “Paradise” with us. We had a wonderful time cooking in your kitchen. Everyday we ate fresh basil, bread, tomatoes and pasta and we drank fine red wine. Friends, food, wine and laughter happened everyday on your patio or in the many lovely areas here at St. Lucia. The highlight of each day or evening would be when we would see Elio. His warm smile and gentle demeanor made us feel even more at home. He is a jewel of a man. As our visit here draws to an end, we will always treasure the memories and time spent here at your Villa. Many thanks, Ciao!

Lorraine, Rebecca and Diana Kilby -West Newbury, Mass.


Dear Nicky,

Thank you for your wonderful villa with its perfect view of the sea. Thank you for the perfect place for eight of us to have an ideal vacation.

Penny Brome


Dear Nicky,

I will be moving in around October. I hope that won’t put you out! It was a marvel - my introduction to Italy - Thanks so much to you and “I suoi genitori”

Denise


Dear Nicky,

it has been a wonderful week. The terrace, the different levels on the way to the beach and the beaches. The sea is marvelous, calm and stormy.

Jean


Dear Nicky

How I have enjoyed the wild and calm water, the grace of the Villa, the views from each terrace, the laughter of our group as we ate overlooking the sea and the beauty of the surrounding countryside., Thank you! … and I’ll hope to meet you in Poughkeepsie!

Barbara Lindsey


Ciao!

Adios!

Bon Voyage, Arrivederci, so long and …grazie!

Thank you Nicky and Lindsey for helping to make my first visit to Italy a wonderful time.

Your warmth and hospitality, all of your suggestions and help and of course your beautiful home…I could not have asked for more.

You made this like a home away from home. You are both truly kind and wonderful people.

I thoroughly enjoyed exploring this beautiful country, but of course did not see even a smithereen of all I want to … so… I’ll be back!

This is a beautiful place and you are beautiful people. Thank you for sharing it all with me!

Adeline ` California


Dear Nicoletta

    Great digs! I can appreciate why your father loved it here so much. I thank you for sharing your home with us and everything, the ocean, the gardens, the view, the villa!

A real privilege and paradise. Peace!

P.S. I must say Elio was just delightful!

Amy Perna ~ From San Francisco, California


Nicky and Lindsey,

   Thank you both (and the extended family) for such a perfect holiday. This trip and this place will stay deeply imbedded in our memories.

It was here that little Ella (11months) took her official first steps. She learned to love the ocean and she spoke her first word “Ball”.

This place, so rich with family and history has become a part of our family history now.

Thank you!

Becca, Erik and Ella Thomsen ~ Portland, Oregon


Dear Nicky and Lindsey,

What an extraordinary month I’ve had at S. Lucia. The sense of place, of history, of a traditional family, so generous with your guests ….

I will be taking a “piece of the rock” with me (little one) literally, in my heart and in my hand.

The romance with Italia and S. Lucia will live on and be remembered with love.  Thank you for sharing with us and allowing us to experience the beauty and special ness of Italy with you, your friends and your family.

My time spent here will be relived each and every day when I watch the beautiful sunsets at my mountain home in North Carolina and know that only 5000 miles away you are seeing the same sunset 2a.m.!

Thank you my lifetime friends for the memories.

P.S. keep your brushes working!

Love,

Billie Shelburn ~ North Carolina, U.S.A.


Wow!

Just when you think this place can’t possibly get better … it does!

Beautiful stormy seas (surf stories to bring back to the kids in California) then days of stunning sun, chirping birds, incredible flowers all over the place.

Getting to be an expert in Tuscan Country driving, great photographs and we are getting even pretty good at finding our way around Cecina!!

Grazie! Pictures to come!

Geoff and Lisa Foley ~ Ojay, California


Hello to all my new friends!

Pardon my lack of “Capire” … Nicky you told me that I could speak Italian “just using the infinitive” … Thank you so much for the beauty and peace you have shared with us.

I cannot tell you how invigorated I am with the new sense of commonality I have found. Maggie and I are constantly going thru pictures and reminiscing about the absolute beauty of our experience with you.

Please say helot o everyone from us.

You should be very proud of ITALIA, it was a welcoming experience with many fascinating opportunities to learn.

Your friendship and guidance will always be in our hearts.

Please stay in touch and if you come our way, stop and visit … I’ll introduce you to “Bubba”!

Jack and Maggie ~ North Carolina


Dear Villa Santa Lucia … and all who inhabit, love and care for her …

Words cannot express the awe, inspiration and wonderment of our time here.

Touring Italy the way we did was frenetic and required considerable down-time in between forays.

This place will recharge one’s batteries better than any ashram!

At times the water laps the shore and at other times thunders against the rocks … always therapeutic.

Great company always makes this place that much more special.

A letter has just arrived from the Vatican and Elio’s beatification is “official”!

 from the Vatican and Elio’s beatification is “official”!

You are all etched in our hearts!

Lisa ~California


St. Lucia has been a very welcome respite for me. Loads of food, fun, good weather, family members and friends. What a wonderful time we’ve had!

We were able to visit Lucca, Montenero, Populonia, Volterra and of course Florence. Wish we could stay longer and eat more fish!

Thanks a bunch for the use of the halls and every room and outdoor areas. Hope to see you sometime soon!

Rosalia Kalpakoff ~ California


Dear Nicoletta,

What a wonderful time we had in your villa by the sea!

There was time to watch the baby seagulls launch themselves into the ocean, time to talk over wine and cheese, time to daydream once again!

Viva l’Italia and many thanks

Shelley ~ Australia


We loved this villa, meals on the terrace, the wonderful views, the sunsets, the gardens, feeding the little turtles in the north gardens, the beach … and we are sorry the holiday is coming to an end.

We did see some extremes of weather, spectacular storms, lightning over the sea at night like fireworks, but mostly it has been what we expected from Toscana in August.

We hope to visit again and look forward to future summers!

Valerie, Stephen, Rosanna, Danielle and Christopher Rhenius ~ Cambridge, England


Imagine! A land so glorious that brilliant scarlet poppies are common weeds!

I shall never forget my days in this beautiful and ancient land, or my darling friends Nicky and Lindsey whose constant generosity, warm hospitality and great conversation added so much to my days here.

Every time I see a particularly beautiful rose, enjoy a great Chianti or hear a crooning surf, I shall happily be reminded of Tuscany. Already I long to return

Virginia Turnbull ~ North Carolina