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Hotel Review
Hotel Review: Grand Universe Hotel, Tuscany
A smart, stylish property positioned near one of the entrances to Lucca's medieval walls, it blends luxury and comfort. 55 rooms of different sizes are described in musical terms to reflect the city's musical history. You'll find an atmospheric lounge bar, upmarket restaurant and rooftop terrace bar.
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Rooms available from £198.07 per night
OUR REVIEW
THE NEIGHBOURHOOD
Sitting on the corner of two main squares, Piazza del Giglio and Piazza Napoleone, you only have to step outside to be absorbed into Lucca's busy daily life. There are cafés, bars, shops and restaurants in abundance, and the main sights - such as the Piazza dell'Anfiteatro and the Torre Guinigi, whose 232 steps lead to magnificent views across the city - are all an easy walk away.
By plane: direct flights from London, Manchester or Bristol to Pisa take 2 hours 30 minutess. The hotel is a 30-minute drive from the airport. Paid parking nearby costs €25 a day. Book flights to Pisa.
THE LOOK AND FEEL
The hotel has been brought right up-to-date with a slew of design touches including polished marble flooring, contemporary chandeliers and tactile fabrics like velvet. The style is welcoming, if somewhat minimalist, and it is as far from a chintzy, old school Italian palazzo as you can get. The colours throughout are warm but muted, with touches of plum, turquoise and yellow in the bedrooms.
THE FACILITIES
The affable staff can organise anything you want or need, from a horse and carriage ride to bicycle hire. One of their most prestigious offerings is a package whereby a local composer can create a passage of music just for you. They can also arrange wine-tastings, guided city tours and even proposals.
- Restaurant
- Bar
- Terrace
- Gym
- Bike rental
- Family-friendly
- Pet-friendly
- Free Wi-Fi
BED AND BATH
From the Piccolo (for single travellers) to the Maestro Suite, rooms are relatively spacious. Wooden beams adorn the ceiling, while many rooms have raw plaster walls and parquet-style flooring, softened with woven silk rugs. Industrial-chic bathrooms feature a bath or walk-in shower (or both).
Room types: Piccolo, Adagio, Vivace, Allegro, Aria Suite, Puccini Suite, Maestro Suite
Key amenities: ensuite bathroom, luxury bathrobes and slippers, hairdryer, tea and coffee-making facilities, TV, free Wi-Fi
FOOD AND DRINK
The small but chic ground-floor Legacy Restaurant plays host to breakfast, lunch and dinner, and also has an outdoor terrace. Start with an aperitivo at the Lounge next door, then settle in for a relaxed, unhurried evening of fine traditional cuisine, which uses local and seasonal ingredients. Dishes might include roast baccalà (salt cod) on a bed of chickpeas, or rovelline Lucchesi (veal escalopes, Luccan-style, with sauteed tomatoes, onions and capers).
Legacy Restaurant: traditional Italian cuisine, seasonal ingredients. Open daily for breakfast, lunch and dinner.