Florence holiday apartment rental with shared pool, walking, beach/lake nearby, balcony/terrace, rural retreat

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Casa Lucia (apartment)

Home description

Casa Lucia is a in a 16th century borgo - with lots of private outside space on its unique terrace, garden and patio: both have seating and stunning views. Beautifully furnished for a comfortable holiday stay. Newly renovated - traditional features - original 500 year old ceiling beams and cotto floors, with wooden shuttered windows and excellent modern facilities where needed. Well equipped wooden kitchen, comfortable beds and sofas. French windows onto garden and own front door onto private terrace. Additional window near kitchen area. Shared pool and gardens with olive trees in pleasant surroundings - with a little piazza for an evening stroll. Near vineyards, fields of sunflowers, restaurants and little villages dotted around the countryside and in nearby San Miniato. Casa Lucia is ideal for all ages: family, friends or couples - cosy, cool, very romantic and picturesque. Lots to do but pleasant just to stay at Bucciano and relax. Excellent for families and a wonderful antidote for stressed couples. Lots of places to visit both locally and easy access to all Tuscany.

SAN MINIATO for historical sites, shops, restaurants, weekly market, ice cream - 15 minutes. Local town La Serra for necessities (bar/cafe, grocery, newsagents, only 5 minutes! In the countryside with easy communication: drive (10/15 minutes from the FI-PI-LI autostrada) or take trains to historic tourist sites: FLORENCE/LUCCA/PISA 35 minutes! COAST/VOLTERRA/SAN GIMIGNANO/CHIANTISHIRE/SIENA an hour on the scenic routes!

Traditional kitchen for Tuscan feasts! (table extends) 500 year old ceiling beams	The pool nestles into the surrounding countryside: plenty of surrounding space
Sunloungers & patio in Casa Lucia's private garden (from French windows: late afternoon)	The Italian leather sofas are very comfortable. Cotto floors, wooden ceilings

To see more photos please visit http://www.holidaylettings.co.uk/8338

The Tuscany region

CASA LUCIA has a small local village nearby at La Serra - and there are many interesting villages/towns in the surrounding countryside with bars/pasticceria/enoteca, alimentari for groceries and restaurants. It is only 7km from the medieval town of SAN MINIATO. The tourist office (English speaking) is very helpful and has lots of information on the surrounding areas.

San Miniato is a town that was full of intrigue, battles, politics and power - variously ruled by France, Florence and even Spain. Now there is a gentler pace of life. As much of Tuscany, the area is still predomininantly rural, with fertile soil and a temperate climate. SAN MINIATO was founded by the Etruscans, the most powerful civilisation in pre-Roman Italy, giving Tuscany its name. It was later colonised by Augustan legionnaires. On his way home from Pisa, St Francis of Assisi travelled to the top of San Miniato hill and founded the historic Convent in 1211.

Many historical attractions within easy reach a great advantage is that Casa Lucia is 10/15 minutes from the Florence-Pisa-Livorno (FI-PI-LI) autostrada so can travel the scenic routes to famous towns in Tuscany and return on the FI-PI-LI tired but happy!

Florence area

Casa Lucia is located in the Province of Pisa but near the border of the Province of Florence - it is actually a little closer to Florence than Pisa. FLORENCE is only 40 minutes drive - or take the train from nearby San Miniato - it only takes 25 minutes and 4 minutes to walk into the historic centre.

Lots of local villages around Casa Lucia (eg Montaione interesting for a stroll and one of our favourite restaurants) and a few more unusual towns eg Leonardo's birthplace of VINCI is only 20 minutes away and has an interesting museum/birthplace.


Visit LUCCA for elegant shopping and sightseeing within a preserved 16th century fortress city - only 35 minutes away. Weekly market and monthly antiques market - hire bicycles to ride around its famous walls from with good views of the medieval and Roman historical centre within.

Visit the sandy COASTAL RESORTS of Viareggio, Forte dei Marmi & the Cinque Terre or try the ETRUSCAN COAST, all within an hour. There also a small water splash park for children which our guests have enjoyed.

Golf course approximately half an hour away.

The famous hilltop town of SAN GIMIGNANO with its many towers and fine medieval architecture is about an hour - take the scenic route via Certaldo, it's lovely. Pretty local villages/small towns in the countryside around Casa Lucia with lots of good restaurants (including informal family ones) with good simple Tuscan food and excellent local Chianti wine.

There are also many vineyards and it is possible to purchase wine for your holiday stay (Casa Lucia is on a Wine Trail). VOLTERRA is on a scenic route and less than an hour. SIENA, CHIANTISHIRE and more - all just over an hour away. It's possible to visit Umbria with an early start.

How to get there

Fly to Pisa or Florence. Casa Lucia is just 35/40 minutes from the airport.
Cheap flights available with Ryanair, easyjet, thomsonfly, bmibaby (from Stansted, Glasgow/Prestwick, Edinburgh, Bournemouth, Manchester and elsewhere)
Also from Heathrow and Gatwick
Ask us for car hire details
Full directions sent before holiday

Activities near Florence

Facilities

Further details indoors:
The front door from Casa Lucia's private terrace opens into an open-plan airy room in the Italian style: incorporating stylish, comfortably furnished dining, sitting and well equipped kitchen areas with plenty of crockery, glasses. Wooden furniture throughout - apart from wrought iron beds and leather sofas. The bedrooms are beautifully furnished with cool white bedding (and warm blankets & central heating/double glazing for winter stays). All windows have wooden shutters and the ceilings are high - the walls very thick - all designed to keep Casa Lucia cool inside when it is hot. The beds are very comfortable - and the sofas. Main well-equipped shower room/washbasin/loo/bidet. There is also a 2nd well equipped shower room with loo and washbasin, bathroom cabinets, good storage, window. (Please bring your own beach towels - all other linen provided).

Pretty travel cot (on request) suitable for child up to 3 years.

Our guests have loved the interior facilities.

Further details outdoors:
There are excellent exterior facilities at Casa Lucia: from the small piazza, a few steps lead to Casa Lucia's gates and its own terrace (with independent front door) and then around to Casa Lucia's private 110sqm garden. It's a most unusual design and guests enjoy the exterior facilities - a lot of time in Tuscany is spent outside so these pleasant facilities are a great advantage.

There are tables/chairs and benches on the terrace - and French doors from the kitchen/dining/sitting area onto the garden patio with another set of table and chairs - to take advantage of the lovely views - and guests enjoy watching the sunsets. There is a new small BBQ every year. NEW! Wooden sunloungers and matching table under the tree as requested by our guests! It's very pleasant having two separate private outside places to sit and now this additional lovely retreat with the sunloungers.

The garden is fenced and has a large tree forming a natural parasol and wonderful when it's hot. The terrace has a terracotta containers of fragrant jasmine, built into the wall along its whole length. Automatic watering.

Casa Lucia is tucked away from the small piazza at Bucciano from where there is a slope to the reserved parking - and the spacious Pool area in a scenic spot nearby. Swimming pool usually open 15 May (sometimes earlier) to 15 October. There is a shower and garden area near the pool.

Further details

Swimming pool usually open 15 May (sometimes earlier) to 15 October. It is a short stroll away from Casa Lucia's front door and in a spacious and scenic area. There is a changing area and shower. There are gardens near the pool.

Small children are very welcome at Casa Lucia (and lots have stayed very happily) but parents are responsible for their safety especially in and around the pool area.

Conditions

A £250 refundable damage deposit is required, returned promptly on confirmation no damage (the odd glass or two ignored!). Full details on request and clearly stated in Letting Terms.
Suitable for families, couples and friends. Lovely travel cot and cool bedding available on request - no charge. Sorry no animals or smoking. Casa Lucia has a few stairs (5 from memory) from piazza to front door. Guests have stayed from ages ranging 6 months to sprightly 92 years.

Rental rates

Period	From	To	Weekly	Nightly rate		Minimum  stay
				Weekday	Weekend
Summer	1 Jun 09	1 Oct 09	695£ 695	0-	0-	1 Week
Autumn in Tuscany	1 Oct 09	16 Oct 09	595£ 595	0-	0-	1 Week
Autumn to Winter	16 Oct 09	21 Dec 09	475£ 475	0-	0-	1 Week
Festive Period	21 Dec 09	11 Jan 10	550£ 550	0-	0-	1 Week
	11 Jan 10	1 Apr 10	475£ 475	0-	0-	1 Week
Spring to Early Summer	1 Apr 10	1 Jun 10	595£ 595	0-	0-	1 Week
Summer	1 Jun 10	1 Sep 10	725£ 725	0-	0-	1 Week
September to mid October	1 Sep 10	16 Oct 10	650£ 650	0-	0-	1 Week
Autumn in Tuscany	16 Oct 10	20 Dec 10	475£ 475	0-	0-	1 Week
Festive Period	20 Dec 10	10 Jan 11	550£ 550	0-	0-	1 Week

NB: Prices may be subject to change at the advertiser's discretion.

BOOK SOON FOR 2010. All prices include Welcome Basket, Welcome Visit & emergency contact, cleaning before & after your stay (and between a 2 week stay), all linen (apart from pool towels).

"ONCE MORE THANK YOU FOR ALL YOUR HELP & FRIENDLY ADVICE. IT'S BEEN A WONDERFUL EXPERIENCE AND ONE I WISH TO EXPERIENCE AGAIN & AGAIN!" Family staying 2 weeks in August.

". . . the fabulous Casa Lucia - thank you very much for a lovely holiday" 2 friends from Scotland staying 2 weeks September.

The weather in April, September and October this year was glorious. Don't forget to book early for half term holidays.

Casa Lucia is suitable for couples, friends and small families - everyone enjoys their holiday - why not join them in 2010 but book soon, we were almost completely booked in 2009.

Guestbook for Casa Lucia

A small selection from our Guest Book:

We had a very enjoyable holiday at Casa Lucia which is a lovely, well equipped property with a superb outlook. The weather was fine & in addition to significant amounts of rest & relaxation and sampling of local products, took trips to Pisa, Viareggio, Montecatini Termi and Vinci (as well as San Miniato).

We loved our time in Bucciano. Your house is delightful. It was extremely convenient for us and the location was out of this world. We did loads of walking all around. We had many adventures but no matter how many times we got lost, it was always an immense pleasure to wind our way back to the Bucciano house. If you ever want to use my comments as a recommendation for the future, then please do not hesitate (Family from Scotland - who booked again the following year).

Thanks for the use of your lovely casa. It's been a great holiday, and greatest envy that you get to see this marvellous view all the time! (Family of 4, Bridgend August/September).

We had a wonderful time at Casa Lucia, the property was ideal for us, even more so for being on the ground floor and having a garden that our little girl could play in happily. Location was perfect, views spectacular. We were pleasantly surprised to find everything within easy reach and spend days in Lucca, Volterra, Florence, San Gimignano, San Miniato, Pisa and our little girl enjoyed her trips to the beach (Couple and 1 year old, Warwickshire, September).

Just to say thank you, we had a wonderful holiday at Casa Lucia. (Family with children 7 & 5, May).

We had the most wonderful time at Casa Lucia and found the villa and its location to be perfect. Just as you said it was really hard to leave (2 couples, July).

Many, many thanks for a fantastic holiday (Couple and teenage daughter July).

We had a wonderful HONEYMOON and found the accommodation delightful. We had perfect weather - sunny and 24 degrees. We visited Florence, Pisa, Siena, Volterra, Viareggio and Montereggiano. We also found a little hamlet which had a fantastic restaurant we would recommend. It had amazing views, excellent service and delicious food - a winning combination!! Porcini mushrooms were in season and out of this world. Thank you for all your help and tips. (Couple from Lancashire, October/November).

We both thought your house was beautiful, very peaceful with drop dead gorgeous views. (Couple from Derbyshire April).

Thanks once again for allowing us to use your home and have a great holiday. It was so relaxing and peaceful I really didn't want to come home. (Couple who stayed in May and also stayed last year with their family - they stayed at Casa Fiore for another family holiday later in the year).

We did have a lovely time. We loved Casa Lucia. The views are fantastic. We were very comfortable there. I could find no fault with Casa Lucia at all. We found everyone very friendly and had everything we needed. We managed to get to all the places we wanted to visit (Pisa, Florence, Lucca, Vinci, San Gimignano). Family who stayed in June.

We had THE BEST TIME EVER!!! We have all fallen in love with Tuscany. Casa Lucia was perfect for us what a little gem of a place. We got to visit most of the places, we had excellent days out to Lucca, Tierrenia, Volterra, San Gimignano, Florence. It was very hard to leave but we would love to come back next year. I want to thank you for the bottom of my heart for letting us stay we truly have had a wonderful time. I will be in touch about next year's trip. Family staying in August.

We have received many other lovely thank you emails, letters and phone calls form our guests this year . . . would you like to join them in 2010? Casa Lucia is suitable for 1 or 2 couples, friends or a small family.

Availability

See below for next 9 months' availability - to see the next 24 months click here

Availability notes:

Send Enquiry

To contact this advertiser please visit: http://www.holidaylettings.co.uk/8338

Contact details for the advertiser of home 8338
Name:	Christine Stribling
Tel:	+44 (0)1992 552927
Mobile:	+44 (0)7811 692296
Be aware of time-zones Please mention Holiday Lettings when contacting this advertiser
Languages:
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Advertiser joined: Dec 2005

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