What People are saying

Charming place on the best street in Lucca

Susan Lon 06/06/2017 20:19

We were very happy with our experience at L'Antica Bifore. The owners, Brid and Stefano, were quite hospitable, gave us a personal welcome and provided a delightful breakfast. The comfortable room looks out on Via Fillungo, the most popular street for Lucca's evening passeggiatta. This is an experience, not just a place to stay and we really enjoyed it.

Spectacular!

fitter32on 05/06/2017 10:42

What an amazing place to stay! It made you feel as if you were royalty, living in the dark ages. The place was built around the year 1350, so it goes without saying, it's quite an experience. The place itself is gorgeous. The rooms have character and style you just can't replicate. The host and hostess were wonderful! Super helpful and incredibly knowledgeable about the town and surroundings. Located smack dab in the middle of Lucca, the location is perfect for exploring this little gem of a town. One of the best places I've stayed anywhere, without a doubt!

What a fantastic location and what great hosts!!!

AlexC Con 30/05/2017 19:53

Myself and my wife stayed here at Easter and had a wonderful time. L'Antica Before is incredibly central and right inside the old town. Everything in Lucca ia just a stroll away. The room was perfect and very refined. Our hosts Breda (an Irish woman!) and her husband Stefano (an Italian) couldn't have been better. They recommended some fabulous restaurants and all were top class. They were perfect guides and very warm and welcoming hosts.

We shall return!!!!

Fantastic base for exploring Lucca

FionaFenon 25/05/2017 16:57

This is a delightful and authentic guest house run by attentive hosts Brid and Stefano .
Communication was great and responsive from booking on line through to our arrival .
Be aware that there are a few flights of stairs , if you have any accessibility issues , but then most of Italy - in the authentic parts- will have similar .
The guest house has been lovingly restored with great artwork and artefacts and has beams of over 800 years history .
The bedroom is basic but all you need and comfortable with the huge arch Windows being the main feature . Bathroom was fine with good water pressure in shower .
The guest house is right in the heart of Lucca and is easily walkable to everywhere . Once you get your bearings you will see how convenient it is .
There's a small pizza shop next door and many more fantastic food and general stores within minutes .
We got a taxi from the railway station ( 10 euros) .
You can buy bottled water and wine in the guest house and there's a coffee machine and kettle for guest use in the huge and beautiful communal guest lounge . This is where breakfast is served from 8.30-10.30 and is a great chance to learn from other guests and ask for suggestions from your hosts . Breakfast is a satisfying continental with meat, cheese , fresh breads, pastries , fruit and yoghurt .
Brid and Stefano are friendly and helpful with great suggestions .
If you want the best location and a friendly hospitable base for your stay - this is the place .

Nice Place to Come Home To

BossierBoyon 22/05/2017 23:01

What a charming bed and breakfast, located in the heart of old town Lucca. I was not expecting it to be so centrally located and in the midst of where everything happens! We stayed there for 6 nights.

Antica Bifore is located in one of the few tower buildings still left standing in Lucca. The street, Fillungo, is the primary shopping street in old town. There are about 5 or 6 long blocks of high-end stores, one after another, along this street. On weekends, some of the folks will dress-up to go shopping on this street. There are many conveniences that are located within a minute’s walk: multiple gelato stores, pizzarias, large book store, churches, major plazas, pastry shops, outdoor tavern, TIM card (cell phones), chocolate shop, etc.

Excellent restaurants are easy to find. Stefano and Brid were good in helping us with making a couple of reservations. They were spot on as to the quality and the excellent experience we would be sure to have.

The facility itself is gorgeous. Stefano and Brid have done an amazing job in renovating the place, so that it is updated but still maintains its old world charm. The main room is very inviting with beautifully painted walls. The rooms all had some type of elegant Tuscan landscapes painted on at least two sides of the walls. The windows in our room, I believe dated back several hundred years. The rooms were clean, each comes with its private bath, including a shower. The bed was comfortable. The room we had, overlooked Fillungo, the main street. We were there during Easter weekend. This meant that there was a lot of partying going on Thursday (the day we arrived) through Monday (celebrated holiday after Easter Sunday). So we did have some street noise that went on during the night, but by Tuesday night, when life was back to normal, it was absolutely quiet. The room was large enough with sufficient closet space to house our large suitcase and its belongings.

The breakfasts were enormous. They included pastries, fruits, yogurts, cheeses, meats, coffees (espresso/Americana), teas, cookies, and assorted snacks. Stefano and Brid make excellent hosts. They are quite the team. They make you feel very welcomed and are a pleasure to be around. Stefano is originally from Italy and can tell you a lot about the culture, things to do, etc. Brid is from Ireland. She is so much fun. Her presence can’t help but make you feel happy to be alive. She may not want me back, though, since I had a tendency to have issues with the coffee machine that no one has had before or since. I have a tendency to be mechanically challenged anyway. It made for good laughs, especially my windmill maneuvers as I kept filling espresso cups one after the other, with no end in sight!

Fortunately, there were some great guests staying there at the same time. So we had many delightful conversations. We would occasionally run into the other guests in town, too.

Lucca is a place that lingers in your mind. Do not make it simply an overnight stay. Stay several days and enjoy it. The city maze that includes narrow streets can keep you occupied for days. There are over a 100 old churches, though, I understand, that only about 50 are still used for that purpose. The city wall has a huge pedestrian/bike path that the occasional passenger car will also use. The trees along the walk can remind you of parks in Paris. It is a town rich in history.

The WIFI was a bit weak. The closer to the main room you got, the stronger the coverage.

Would we return to Antica Bifore? Definitely. Brid, Stefano are you ready?