Imagine staying in a 14th century “palazzo” in the very heart of the historic centre of Lucca, one of the prettiest and most authentic towns in Tuscany. Throw in 5 beautifully decorated bedrooms, attentive young hosts, Giulio and Gaia and you have one of the best combinations in central Italy. Remains of frescos are found all around the house including the entire ceiling of the suite; if you want to come to Italy to sample a little of the incredible history then there’s no better way of doing it than sleeping under, next to and inside of it.

One quick word of warning; La Romea is over six hundred years old and there is no elevator but instead 2 flights of authentically steep stairs! Step outside the front door and the Piazza dell’Anfiteatro (like the Piazza Navona in Rome this is an ancient theatre masquerading as the central town piazza) is just 150m away along the cobbled streets, the church of Sant’Andrea in front. The 4 double bedrooms and 1 suite are decorated in different relaxed and subtle colours, nothing too over the top but a long way from minimalist with plenty of natural fabrics and warm tones to really settle in well.

Breakfast here has created quite a fan-base and justly so for it bears no resemblance whatsoever to the typical Italian “pastry and run” but is, in itself, a lesson in using the freshest Tuscan ingredients and homemade passion for quality. All of this has been done in a homely and relaxed manner at very reasonable prices and if you are interested in staying somewhere that can give you a real introduction to a charming Italian town then this is a really good bet.

Make the most of your time and stay in the heart of things; Giulio and Gaia go out of their way to help you and are always on hand to offer great insider tips about the best local places to eat and ponder about.