Entire home

An Old Bishop's House, Now a Charming Holiday Villa for 10/14 Guests in a Mosquito Free Area between Florence and Lucca

Photo gallery for An Old Bishop's House, Now a Charming Holiday Villa for 10/14 Guests in a Mosquito Free Area between Florence and Lucca

Outdoor dining
Exterior
6 bedrooms, desk, iron/ironing board, cots/infant beds
Interior
Fridge, microwave, oven, stovetop
Reviews
9.8

Exceptional

Entire home

6 bedrooms5 bathroomsSleeps 14340 sq m

Popular amenities

  • Pool
    PoolPool
  • Pet-friendly
    Pet-friendlyPet-friendly
  • Hot tub
    Hot tubHot tub
  • Fireplace
    FireplaceFireplace
  • Free WiFi
    Free WiFiFree WiFi
  • Kitchen
    KitchenKitchen

Explore the area

Map
Pistoia, Tuscany
  • Popular LocationHidron Pistoia20 min drive
  • Popular LocationPistoia Zoo20 min drive
  • Popular LocationCorno alle Scale54 min drive
  • AirportPisa (PSA-Galileo Galilei)75 min drive

Most relevant reviews

About this property

Entire place

You'll have the entire home to yourself and will only share it with other guests in your party.

An Old Bishop's House, Now a Charming Holiday Villa for 10/14 Guests in a Mosquito Free Area between Florence and Lucca

'Villa Le Panche' was built in 1718 as a summer retreat for the Bishop of Pistoia. It has been recently refurbished and it is now a very comfortable mansion with wide common areas such as two living rooms, one of which with pool table and sofa bed, a fully equipped kitchen, large indoor and outdoor dining areas and a wellness room with a 4 place sauna and a 7 place hydro massage.
The villa can accommodate up to 14 guests in 5 double bedrooms ensuite, a twin bedroom with bunk beds and a supplementary king size sofa bed in the mansard lounge near the pool table.
Outside the Villa, our guests can enjoy the heated swimming pool, relax in a 2000sq.m private garden with apple and maple trees and walk along the shady banks of the Reno River.
'Villa Le Panche' is in fact located in a mosquito-free lush valley, at a distance of just 15 minutes from downtown Pistoia and 40 minutes by car from Florence and Lucca. Our area is also close to Abetone, a famous Tuscan winter resort with some 80 km of ski slopes.
For those who are interested in visiting Tuscany's art cities or the beaches of Versilia, Pistoia stands in a central position and is very well connected via highway and railway with all potential destinations.

Property manager

Mr. Davide Ferrari

Languages

English, French, Italian, Spanish

Property amenities

Beach

  • Beach loungers
  • Beach towels

Ski

  • Cross-country skiing nearby

Pool/Spa

  • Heated pool
  • Massage
  • Private pool
  • Sauna
  • Spa tub

Internet

  • Available in the villa: Free WiFi

Parking and transport

  • Car recommended
  • Parking on site

Kitchen

  • Blender
  • Coffee/tea maker
  • Cookware, dishware, and utensils
  • Dishwasher
  • Electric kettle
  • Hob
  • Ice maker
  • Microwave
  • Oven
  • Refrigerator
  • Spices
  • Toaster

Dining

  • Chef service
  • Dining table

Bedrooms

  • 6 bedrooms
  • Bedsheets provided
  • Sofa bed

Bathroom

  • 4.5 bathrooms
  • Bathtub or shower
  • Bidet
  • Hair dryer
  • Jetted bathtub
  • Shampoo
  • Soap
  • Toilet paper
  • Towels provided

Living spaces

  • Dining table
  • Fireplace
  • Living room
  • Separate dining area

Entertainment

  • Books
  • DVD player
  • Games
  • Smart TV with cable/satellite channels
  • Stereo

Outdoor areas

  • Barbecue grill
  • Fenced yard
  • Firepit
  • Garden
  • Outdoor furniture
  • Patio

Laundry

  • Laundromat nearby
  • Washing machine

Work spaces

  • Desk

Comfort

  • Heating

Pets

  • Pet friendly

Suitability/Accessibility

  • Designated smoking areas
  • Note from host: Smoking is permitted in all OUTDOOR areas

Services and conveniences

  • Housekeeping (on request)
  • Iron/ironing board
  • Meal delivery service

Location highlights

  • In a rural location
  • In the mountains
  • Near a hospital
  • Near a zoo
  • Near an outlet shopping centre
  • Near the bay
  • On a river

Things to do

  • Bicycles on site
  • Billiards/pool table on site
  • Gym on site
  • Heated pool on site
  • Table tennis on site
  • Basketball nearby
  • Birdwatching nearby
  • Cycling nearby
  • Ecotours nearby
  • Fishing nearby
  • Golfing nearby
  • Hiking/biking trails nearby
  • Horseback riding nearby
  • Hunting nearby
  • Ice skating nearby
  • Kayaking nearby
  • Mountain biking nearby
  • Spelunking nearby
  • Swimming nearby
  • Theme park nearby
  • Wildlife walks nearby
  • Winery tours nearby

Safety features

  • Carbon monoxide detector (host has indicated there is a carbon monoxide detector on the property)
  • Smoke detector (host has indicated there is a smoke detector on the property)
  • Fire extinguisher
  • Deadbolt lock

General

  • 1 unit
  • Bicycles
  • Garden
  • Housekeeping (on request)
  • Unit size: 3,660 square feet

Similar properties

Policies

Check-in

Check-in time starts at 3:30 PM
Minimum check-in age - 18

Check-out

Check-out before 10:30 AM
Contactless check-out

Special check-in instructions

You will receive an email from the host with check-in and check-out instructions

Pets

Pets are allowed
Service animals are welcome, and are exempt from fees
Restrictions apply; for more information contact the property on the number on the booking confirmation

Children and extra beds

Children are welcome
Cots are available on request at the property

Important information

You need to know

Extra-person charges may apply and vary depending on property policy
Government-issued photo identification and a credit card, debit card or cash deposit may be required at check-in for incidental charges
Special requests are subject to availability upon check-in and may incur additional charges; special requests cannot be guaranteed
This property accepts cash
Parties and events (including family gatherings, birthday parties and weddings) are allowed on site. Maximum attendees: 12
Host has indicated that there is a carbon monoxide detector on the property
Host has indicated that there is a smoke detector on the property
Safety features at this property include a fire extinguisher and a deadlock
This property is managed through our partner, Vrbo. You will receive an email from Vrbo with a link to a Vrbo account, where you can change or cancel your reservation
Property Registration Number 047014CAV0003

We should mention

All guests, including children, must be present at check-in and show their government-issued photo ID card or passport
Cash transactions at this property cannot exceed EUR 5000, due to national regulations; for further details, please contact the property using the information in the booking confirmation
A car is recommended for transport to and from this property

About the area

Pistoia

Located in Pistoia, this villa is in a rural area and on a river. SMI Shelters Museum and Suspension Bridge of San Marcello Pistoiese are local landmarks, and the area's natural beauty can be seen at Corno Alle Scale Regional Park and Villa Celle. Consider Manzoni Theater for a night out or Pistoiese Mountains Astronomical Observatory if you're travelling with kids. Make sure you get close to the area's animals with activities such as game walks and birdwatching.

What's nearby

  • Sanctuary of the Madonna of Valdibrana - 18 min drive
  • Collegigliato Piscina Villa Cappugi - 19 min drive
  • Hidron Pistoia - 20 min drive
  • Pistoia Zoo - 20 min drive
  • Corno alle Scale - 54 min drive

Getting around

  • Pistoia Pracchia Station - 4 min drive
  • Peretola Airport (FLR) - 52 min drive

Restaurants

  • ‪Bar Margherita - ‬5 min drive
  • ‪Il Signorino - ‬17 min drive
  • ‪Pelliccia - ‬6 min drive
  • ‪BarBacco - ‬7 min drive
  • ‪Le Pizze di Leo - ‬5 min drive

Frequently asked questions

Does An Old Bishop's House, Now a Charming Holiday Villa for 10/14 Guests in a Mosquito Free Area between Florence and Lucca have a pool?

Yes, this property has a pool. Pool types include heated pools.

Is An Old Bishop's House, Now a Charming Holiday Villa for 10/14 Guests in a Mosquito Free Area between Florence and Lucca pet-friendly?

Yes, pets are allowed at this property.

What time is check-in at An Old Bishop's House, Now a Charming Holiday Villa for 10/14 Guests in a Mosquito Free Area between Florence and Lucca?

Check-in begins at 3:30 PM.

What time is check-out at An Old Bishop's House, Now a Charming Holiday Villa for 10/14 Guests in a Mosquito Free Area between Florence and Lucca?

Checkout is at 10:30 AM.

Where is An Old Bishop's House, Now a Charming Holiday Villa for 10/14 Guests in a Mosquito Free Area between Florence and Lucca located?

This family-friendly Pistoia villa is located on the riverfront, 1.5 mi (2.3 km) from SMI Shelters Museum, and within 9 mi (15 km) of Pistoiese Mountains Astronomical Observatory and Suspension Bridge of San Marcello Pistoiese. Ospedale del Ceppo and Museum of Pistoia Underground are also within 12 miles (20 km).

Reviews

9.8

Exceptional

Rating 10 - Excellent. 57 out of 66 reviews" "
Rating 8 - Good. 9 out of 66 reviews" "
Rating 6 - Okay. 0 out of 66 reviews" "
Rating 4 - Poor. 0 out of 66 reviews" "
Rating 2 - Terrible. 0 out of 66 reviews" "

9.6/10

Cleanliness

Reviews

10/10 Excellent

Elena D.

Liked: Cleanliness
Great vacation with family at this beautiful villa.
We had a wonderful stay at the villa. Davide and his father Nedo were great hosts and were readily available to help with any small issues and with great information about the area and activities. The villa is very inviting, lovely and spacious and had everything we needed. The location is great with lovely views and close to amenities and the train station in Pistoia. Highly recommend this property. Thank you Davide.
Stayed 14 nights in Apr 2024

10/10 Excellent

Melaney J., Grove City, OH USA

Liked: Cleanliness
Great property!
Our group of ten friends had a wonderful week here. Many thanks to Davide for his insights and information on the area. Highly recommend. Thank you!
Stayed 7 nights in Sep 2023

10/10 Excellent

Gareth B.

Liked: Cleanliness
Very enjoyable week
My family and friends, 9 adults, had a really great week at the Old Bishop's House. Our host Davide could not have been more welcoming and helpful. From recommending places to visit, eat, drink, shop, down to even arranging for a home meal to be cooked by a chef called Claudia, which was a fantastic evening. All in all we had a really great holiday supported by a brilliant host!!
Stayed 7 nights in Aug 2023

10/10 Excellent

Andrew B., Cosby, Leicestershire, England

Liked: Cleanliness
Villa Le Panche - August 2023
The property more than met our expectations. It is comfortable and everything we needed was present. The outside space is spacious, secure and safe for a family with young children. The property is historically interesting and has been renovated to preserve its features whilst providing accommodation meeting our requirements. Davide spent time with us on arrival to guide us round the accommodation explaining important details. He also provided us with considerable local information with recommendations on places to visit. There are many local information leaflets in the property. The local climate avoids the need for air con at night. The family enjoyed the pool which has a powered cover to keep the heat in at night but keeps debris out. Davide and his father regularly visit to maintain the pool. Location is good for exploring the area. Pistoia is about 20 minutes away with excellent train services that we used to visit Florence and Pisa. We also visited Vinci and Lucca and toured the locality by car. The local supermarket in Campo Tezzoro is only a few minutes away and is large enough to provide most provisions backed up with a local butcher in Pontepetri. In conclusion we all very much enjoyed our stay at villa Le Panche.
Stayed 14 nights in Aug 2023

10/10 Excellent

Lynne W.

Liked: Cleanliness
Wonderful House and Owners
We had such a great holiday - Davide and his Dad were excellent hosts, so helpful with local knowledge and suggestions which really made a difference [tios on car parks to use/ roads which made a journey more interesting /supermarkets etc] The house itself was perfect for us as a large family group of 7 adults and 4 children - the pool was perfect and the hot tub, gym equipment, sauna, table tennis and kids play area were the icing on the cake! as previously mentioned in reviews the first staircase is original stone and as such needed concentration but me [hip replacement] and my husband [ankle replacement] managed fine. The ensuite bathrooms are excellent and we had no issues with water pressure etc no matter how many people were showering at the same time! The kitchen is well equipped with a fantastic fridge freezer with water and ice "on tap" - hob and oven were great too. The house location up in the hills means that a car is essential - we visited Florence, Lucca, Pistoia zoo, Prato - all lovely visits! I would highly recommend Villa le Planche!
Stayed 14 nights in Jul 2023

10/10 Excellent

saffron b.

Liked: Cleanliness
Fabulous stay!
Our stay at the Bishop's House was incredible! We were a group of nine and the house had lots of space for us to be together and apart. The central location was amazing. We did day trips to Lucca, Pisa and Pistoia; all with in easy reach. However the best feature of the rental was Davide. We have stayed in many VRBO's and have never had a host as exceptional as Davide. He was super helpful and quick to respond. There aren't enough stars for Davide and the Bishop's House!
Stayed 7 nights in Jun 2023

10/10 Excellent

Adam J.

Liked: Cleanliness
Superb Villa in the hills
We had a fantastic week at this villa. Everything was exactly as in the photos and description. Davide and his father Nedo were great hosts and on hand to fix any minor issues as well as offer advice about things to do in the local area. This villa has everything you need to relax and enjoy time with the family. Great base to visit the main towns of Tuscany, although as it is up in the hills, you need to allow time to drive most places (about 25 mins to Pistoia). There are some small local shops and supermarket a few mins drive away. For those with accessibility needs, please note that there are 3 double bedrooms (plus the bunkbed room) on the first floor. These are up 1 flight of stairs which are the original in the property, so a bit steep and uneven. The older members of our group with more limited mobility managed them fine though - just take care. There are a further 2 double bedrooms on the top floor (plus the pool table with sofa bed in an open area) - stairs are new and much easier from here.
Stayed 7 nights in May 2023

10/10 Excellent

Jonathan C.

Liked: Cleanliness
Easter break with the whole family
A fantastic base for our whole family to enjoy the easter break spacious and comfortable for all. Beautiful countryside setting and close to a number of villages with shops bars and restaurants. Davide is a grate host and takes time to explain things in detail to get the most from your stay. Recommended
Stayed 7 nights in Apr 2023

10/10 Excellent

Ammon P.

Liked: Cleanliness
Fantastic week with family at the Villa La Panche
We were a group of 14 (3 siblings with partners and adult/teen children) staying for a week at the Villa La Panche. Not only were the house, pool, and grounds fantastic, but it was the perfect base for us to visit Pisa, Lucca, Florence, and Cinque Terre. Out host Davide made us feel most welcome and was very kind and helpful with tips on where to go, what to see, and how to best to get there. He was very knowledgeable about the local area and some of our favourite activities were things he recommended, like the zip lines at Canyon Park and the winery tour at Tenuta di Capezzana. The house has historic character, but is clean and well maintained with all the modern appliances and conveniences you'd expect. Hot days out sight seeing or by the pool turned into evenings which were refreshingly cool. There is some noise from the nearby road, but it never bothered us and it means the house has very good access. The property is surrounded by tree-covered hills and there are many walking paths if you're interested in getting out and exploring. The nearby villages are small and quaint, but have the necessary facilities and you're not far from even more dramatic mountain scenery. We all had a wonderful time at Villa La Panche and we would not hesitate to come and stay again.
Stayed 7 nights in Aug 2022

10/10 Excellent

Simon S.

Liked: Cleanliness
Very clean and nice house in the hills.
The house is very clean and tidy, and as in the photos. The owners were very informative and offered advice on the local area. They are very close at hand should you need anything and pop in to check everything is ok from time to time. There was a fault with the front door lock that I was told about at check in. We had some problems with it and I really think it should have been fixed properly before we arrived. But other than that the house was great.
Stayed 8 nights in Sep 2019