Lovingly restored detached stone cottage with private pool & shallow platform sleeping 6. Stunning views over the mountains and towards the mediaeval village of Castiglione enable total relaxation.
The villa is a lovingly renovated traditional Tuscan villa, built with local stone, boasting terraces & arches.
Set in extensive grounds, with meadows, olive groves & fruit trees, this is a l rural retreat, yet situated only a 15 min drive from the market town of Castelnuovo di Garfagnana with its shops, bars, restaurants, famous Thursday morning market, & train station for easy exploring. Closer, is the village of Pieve Fosciana with its excellent restaurant & wonderful delicatessen selling home made take away Italian food.
The villa has been gradually renovated with loving care, & the owners have ensured original features, such as solid chestnut flooring, traditional staircase, chestnut beamed ceilings & fireplaces have remained. The property has been furnished in period style too.
The property is spacious, with 4 bedrooms (1 double with doors leading to terrace, 1 twin, one small double/large single, and one single); a bathroom with tub; shower room; kitchen; dining room; living room; study; large entrance hall; 2 eating out areas, & 2 terraces.
The private pool is 5m x 11m plus a shallow step platform for lazing, leading to main pool 1.5M deep.
Enter house into large entrance/living area through to:
Double aspect living room complete with fireplace, & comfy seating. Sat tv/dvd. Good Wi-Fi connection. Double doors leading to terrace
Study, with doors leading to terrace
Dining room with enormous fireplace, original features, period furniture, leading through to:
Shaded eating area overlooking olive trees.
Also ground floor is downstairs WC.
The kitchen is well equipped with large oven, 5 ring hob, dishwasher, fridge/freezer, & double doors leading to further eating area
Upstairs:
1 double bedroom with doors leading to the terrace & amazing views.
One twin room which can also be a double
One simple single bedroom
One small double/large single
Bathroom with bath tub, hand held shower over, wc, sink and bidet
Shower room
Arch vaulted beamed ceilings throughout
The utility area is housed in the basement
NB due to unprotected slopes, this property is not suitable for very small children.
A little about the area:
The villa is peacefully located down 1.3KM OF TRACK ROAD, & overlooks the mediaeval village of Castiglione and the larger village of Pieve Fosciana which is 3km away. Both villages have restaurants and bars.
There are various good restaurants providing fresh local home cooked traditional food within a short drive, as well as local shops, delicatessens, gelaterias & supermarkets. On the way to town there is a village shop providing home cooked Italian hot & cold food to take away, with a different menu each day. Ideal for eating at home, or for picnics.
For relaxing afternoons out, there are lots of pretty villages to explore in the immediate locality, one of which is fully walled commanding outstanding views over the Apuane mountains. Many of these villages have festas in the summer with food, drink & dancing.
Only a short drive from the National Park of Orrecchiella, there is walking, hiking, horse riding, mountain biking & picnicking, surrounded by views of endless mountains, & chestnut woodland.
For outdoor life there is also a local tree climbing/zip wiring park, with courses adapted for all age groups, from the very young to adults.
There are local adventure parks where one can try water canyoning, rock climbing, swimming in rock pools, canoeing etc & there is the Grotta del Vento, a massive cave system in the mountains which is a good day out.
There is an ancient fortress to visit with jaw dropping views, & interactive displays for children including a chance to try a little archery.
For a townie day , the local market town of Castelnuovo di Garfagnana is less than a 15 min. drive. Here there are bars, restaurants, a famous Thursday morning market, old castle walls, the river Serchio and local train station.
The beautiful mediaeval town of Barga with its cobbled streets, great architecture, cathedral & views is only a 25-min drive. Barga is famous for its art & music, and there is often free music, evening markets, dancing, & sometimes even impromptu singing from Paolo Nutini! Well known for its restaurants, Barga has plenty of places to eat.
Lucca, the walled Mediaeval City is only a 1 hr drive - spend the day cycling; meandering along its ample walls; people watching in the piazzas with prosecco, coffee or ice cream; designer shopping; climbing towers, visiting some of its 99 churches or just enjoying the atmosphere. There is a Puccini recital every evening before dinner in a unique church setting.
Pisa & Florence are good day trips, as are the beaches of Forte dei Marmi, or Viareggio. Many guests also visit the Cinque Terre...
