An 18th-century Tuscan estate. A Belgian couple's impossible dream. And the story that's been waiting three centuries for you to write your chapter.
"A magnificent old villa catches their eyes. They halt the car. Without exchanging a word, they gaze at each other and smile."
Marleen and Luc Van Marcke weren't looking for a villa. They were driving through a village that time forgot, through cypress-lined roads that held secrets in their shadows. But some stories choose you.
They named her Marie. After their daughter. And for five years, through blood, sweat, and tears, they brought three centuries of history back to life.
Every tile beneath your feet was laid in the 1700s. Every chandelier from Murano tells a story. The olive trees have watched empires rise and fall. The wine cellar holds bottles that remember better years than these.
For one week, it's all yours. The six suites. The private chef. The spa hidden in the basement. The helipad (yes, a helipad). The tennis court. Two hectares of gardens where lemons become limoncello and secrets stay buried.
How a chance encounter on a Tuscan road became an obsession, a restoration, and eventually, an invitation.
Marleen and Luc Van Marcke weren't looking for a villa. They were driving through Vorno—a quiet village known since the 1400s, nestled in the hills above Lucca—when something made them stop.
"A magnificent old villa catches their eyes. They halt the car. Without exchanging a word, they gaze at each other and smile."
There was no discussion. No deliberation. No list of pros and cons. Some decisions make themselves. Within weeks, the papers were signed.
Five years. That's how long it took to bring three centuries back to life. Every Tessieri tile beneath your feet had to be preserved. Every Murano chandelier restored to its original glory. The wooden beams and terracotta ceilings on the second floor—original, untouched, sacred.
They added a spa in the basement—sauna, hammam, heated pool with hydromassage jets. A wine cellar curated by a sommelier who believes every bottle tells a story. An elevator, because progress shouldn't mean climbing three flights of stairs.
When the restoration was complete, Villa Marie wasn't just a house. It was three buildings. Two hectares of gardens where lemons grow for limoncello and olives press into oil. An outdoor pool hidden beyond the Italian Garden. A tennis court for those who believe competition improves everything.
And a helipad. Because some guests arrive in ways that make for better stories.
Every villa has a name. This one was christened after the Van Marckes' daughter. Because when you pour five years of your life into saving something, you give it the name of the person who matters most. Marie didn't just get a villa named after her. She got a legacy.
Three buildings. Three centuries. One story waiting for you.
The heart of the estate. Six suites, each painted in a color that refuses to apologize. A spa hidden in the basement. A wine cellar that knows more than it tells.
Original Tessieri tiles from the 1700s. Murano chandeliers. A fireplace that's seen things.
Classical design with antique furnishings. Where strangers become family over Tuscan wine.
Painted boiserie in classical style. Where our chef turns local ingredients into memories.
Elmwood and boiserie. A place to disappear into someone else's story while living your own.
Beneath the 18th-century floors, a 21st-century secret. A spa that doesn't believe in half-measures. Sauna when you need to sweat out your decisions. Hammam when you need to think. A heated pool with hydromassage jets when you need to stop thinking entirely.
Two hours daily, complimentary. Because some things shouldn't come with a clock.
The farmhouse. Where farmers once slept, now three more suites for those who want to wake up closer to the earth.
The Casa del Contadino doesn't pretend to be something it isn't. It was a farmhouse. The people who lived here worked this land. Their ghosts are friendly.
Ground floor: a fully equipped kitchen and a living room with a wood-burning stove. A hand-painted mural that's been watching guests since before your grandparents were born.
First floor: three more suites. Terracotta floors. Retro-style fixtures in bathrooms that remember when "vintage" was just called "new."
The banqueting hall. Where the pizza oven burns and the nights burn hotter.
Il Forno isn't a place to sleep. It's a place where things happen. Weddings. Celebrations. Business deals that work better over wood-fired pizza than boardroom coffee. The view from its terrace includes the towers of Lucca and the outline of the Alps.
Gardens designed across decades. Italian formality. Tuscan wildness. And corners where you can disappear for hours.
Classical design. Fountains, hedges, cypresses. Lemon trees lining a central water channel.
White marble gazebo designed by Luc. White wisteria canopy. Where "I do" sounds different.
Organic produce for the kitchen. Forty varieties of edible flowers, herbs, and vegetables.
Fifty meters of structure. Kiwis that become jams and candied fruit.
Extra-virgin olive oil, pressed here. Trees that remember better years and worse ones.
Beyond the Italian Garden. Loungers, parasols, and the sound of nothing.
Built in 2025. For those who believe competition improves everything.
For exploration. For contemplation. For getting pleasantly lost.
Because some arrivals deserve to be remembered.
Food that remembers where it came from. Wine that knows its story. Activities that remind you why you came here.
Chef Andrea Cambi doesn't just cook. He translates. Local ingredients refined with technique and creative vision. Select from an a la carte menu or surrender to a tasting menu designed around whatever's ripest that morning.
Breakfast is Italian-style. Lunch or dinner is whatever you want it to be.
Once weekly. Wood-fired. Premium ingredients. Time-honored techniques. Additional nights upon request.
Handmade pasta. Artisan bread. Italian pastry. Chef Andrea teaches technique and the art of making simple things extraordinary.
Limoncello from our lemons. Mirto from our botanicals. Organic preserves. Extra virgin olive oil, cold-pressed from our trees.
"A premium selection of fine wines and spirits, carefully curated with the expertise of a sommelier."
Renowned Tuscan labels. Hidden gems. Bottles that understand patience. The cellar is down in the basement, next to the spa, because some decisions require both clarity and relaxation.
Villa Marie is a destination. But it's also a beginning.
Discover the enchanting coastline where colourful houses perch on cliffs overlooking the Ligurian Sea. UNESCO World Heritage. Hiking trails that earn their views.
Day TripTuscany is renowned for world-class wine production. Our concierge arranges tastings at estates where the families have been doing this for generations.
Arranged by ConciergeLuxury sailing with professional crews, moored in Tuscan ports. Explore the coastline. Return with salt on your skin and stories worth telling.
Forte dei Marmi • 40 minSome moments deserve a stage. This is yours.
"When you and your guests stroll into the new Wedding Garden, featuring a superb marble gazebo, your big day will be almost complete."
The white marble gazebo was designed by Luc Van Marcke himself. White wisteria cascades overhead. Magnolia trees frame the moment. The towers of Lucca watch from the distance.
White marble gazebo, wisteria canopy, magnolia trees. A setting that photographs itself.
The banqueting hall. Reception space. Dance floor. Pizza oven for late-night cravings.
18 guests sleeping on-site. Everyone wakes up together. The celebration doesn't end at midnight.
Art exhibitions in gardens designed for contemplation. Intimate concerts under Tuscan stars. Private parties where the guest list is as curated as the wine cellar.
Team building that actually builds teams. Conferences that don't feel like conferences. Meetings where the best ideas come after dinner, over wine.
This is yours. Tell us when you're coming, and we'll start writing your chapter.
We don't publish rates. Not because we're hiding anything, but because every stay is different. Your dates, your needs, your vision—they shape the price, not a spreadsheet.
Fill out the form. We'll respond within 24 hours with availability, terms, and a number that reflects what you're actually asking for.
Usually rented Saturday to Saturday. Full weeks preferred.
Minimum 3-night stays available. More flexibility.
We recommend booking at least 2 weeks ahead.
We'll get back to you with availability and pricing.