Lucca - Garfagnana holiday ski cottage rental, Pescaglia with walking, log fire, air con, rural retreat, TV, DVD

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Casa Marginetta (cottage)

Home description

Located in the village of Convalle in the idyllic surroundings of the Apuan Alps Natural Park near Pescaglia in the Lucca province of Tuscany, you will find an oasis of peace and tranquility in which to relax and unwind.

Casa Marginetta is a tastefully restored collection of 300-year-old stone cottages that have been joined together to offer spacious accommodation for up to seven people.

Whatever your preference, be it winter sports, summer sun, good wine, fine food, walking, cycling or sightseeing, Casa Marginetta could be your ideal Tuscan 'agroturismo' home from home!

Low cost flights from an ever-growing number of UK and other European airports and airlines, together with quick local transfers, now make getting here more affordable and less hassle than ever before.

Why not make 2009 the year that you discover Tuscany?

The views from Casa Marginetta are breathtaking!	Casa Marginetta in beautiful Tuscany
Deep powder and no avalanches = Happy off-piste experts at Abetone!	Our relaxing sun deck with recliners, picnic table and gas bar-b-que

To see more photos please visit http://www.holidaylettings.co.uk/76603

The Tuscany region

* Lucca *

The cosmopolitan city of Lucca with its ancient oval amphitheatre, exquisite architecture and fully intact 'Walls'
can be reached in 30 minutes. This beautiful city may be easily explored on foot, bicycle or even by hiring a
tandem!

* Pisa *

Pisa is only an hour away. See the famous 'leaning tower' before it falls down!
Now re-opened, it makes an interesting climb, and the panoramic view from the top is wonderful!

* Florence *

Fabulous Florence, one of the finest cultural centres in Europe, is also about an hour away. Don't miss the
"Duomo di Santa Maria del Fiore", the "Ponte Vecchio" and the "Galleria degli Uffizi", home of "Michaelangelo's
David", and other famous works.

* Grab your buckets and spades for summer seaside fun at Viareggio *

In the summertime, Viareggio and neighbouring resorts are a millionaires' playground with expensive yachts
moored in the harbour and some top-class restaurants!

Families are also well catered for and there’s something to suit every budget. There's mile upon mile of golden sand on which to relax and unwind and a variety of watersports including surfing are possible too! The seaside is only 40 minutes drive away.

* Cecina Acqua Village Water Park *

Open 8am ~ 6pm every day throughout the summer from June.

Located just south of Livorno, the park is little more than an hour and a half from Casa Marginetta.
This fabulous water park is full of exciting slides, chutes, and a wave swimming pool to boot!
There are trampolines, beach volleyball, surfing, amusement arcade, 'soap soccer' and even a 'human table football' game! A picnic area, bars and restaurants cater for every need.

Entrance: Children under 3 are free, Children 3-11 €13, Adults €18. Parking is free.

* Try Skiing or Snowboarding for winter fun at Abetone *

Around 50km from Convalle, the fabulous winter sports paradise of Abetone awaits you. With twenty nine marked runs and eleven brand-new lifts installed in recent years, Abetone is truly a world-class resort!

In addition, if you're new to skiing then Abetone is probably the best place on earth to learn!

Forget mile-long ski school drag-lift queues and accidents ... Abetone has a good-sized separate nursery slope served by two excellent chairlifts and a 'magic carpet' travellator!

Fast gondolas and modern chairlifts abound and a fabulous new fast link from Villa Imperatori to Seletta opens up the exciting 'Riva' slopes as never before!

Add English-speaking guides and gentle introductory cruisey-blues right from the mountain top and you've the perfect recipe that'll have you hooked in no time!!

This is a great place for skiers and boarders alike as Abetone has never ever suffered an avalanche ... so as resorts go, it is about as safe as you can get!

From December until April, experience mile after mile of exciting runs of the highest quality across five fully interlinked resorts at unbelievably low prices.

Five day adult lift passes are available from €65 ... That works out at just €13 a day!

For children up to age 7 it's even less ... only €42,50 for five days ... that's just €8,50 a day!

We have also negotiated special prices on equipment hire and tuition for guests:

Five days hire of skis, boots and poles for just €32 ... and for children a free safety helmet is included too!

A two hour private lesson for up to five people at the special price of €76 ... and it's just €38 per hour thereafter if you want some more ...

That works out at just €7,60 per person per hour ... Why make do with ski school when you can afford your own private tutor?

With the credit crunch biting, prices like these could save your family a fortune and help you to enjoy a fabulous winter break for less. Check the prices in other resorts and you'll find that Abetone offers unbeatable value for money!

Lucca - Garfagnana / Pescaglia area

* The authentic taste of Tuscany *

A wide selection of local restaurants in the “Valley of Gastronomy” offer a wealth of genuine Tuscan gourmet delights:

• Freshly made calzone pizzas sizzle in the log-fired stone oven at “La Fonte”.
• Home-made “Tortelloni” pasta and the freshest seafood are on offer at “La Tana”.
• Possibly the world’s best mixed grill is served at “Il Guerriero”.
• Fresh “Funghi Porcini” mushrooms are yours to enjoy at “Il Molino del Volpe”.

To add to your experience there are unforgettable Italian tomatoes in salads drenched with local Luccan
‘extra virgin’ olive oil and tasty balsamic vinegar from Modena in nearby Emilia-Romagna.

Last, but not least, you are free to choose from a host of delicious white and red wines to complement your
meal. Put some sparkle in your life with a tasty Prosecco or enjoy the red sophistication of Vino Nobile di
Montepulciano.

The above are just a small selection of the range of superb culinary delights on offer, and all at exceptionally
reasonable prices.

No wonder our guests want to visit again and again!

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So much to see and do nearby:

* Puccini's home *

Puccini's home in Celle is only a few minutes' drive away, and you can see where he composed the aria “Nessun Dorma” from the opera “Turandot” made famous by Pavarotti and more recently by Paul Potts.

* Grotta del Vento *

Situated in the centre of the Apuan Alps‟ Natural Park, this is one of the most complete European caves, presenting an extraordinary variety of phenomena, the most unusual of which is a natural breeze which blows through the cave due to the presence of a second (unused) entrance. The speed and direction of the breeze is dependent on the temperature gradient between the two entrances and yet inside the cave the temperature is a pleasant 10.7°C (53°F) all year round.

Following illuminated and easy-going trails, expert speleological guides will show you the many wonders of the underground world: from shining stalactites and stalagmites to polychrome flowstone, alabaster draperies, crystal-brimmed lakes, underground water-courses and bizarre forms of erosion.

* Thermal Swimming Pool *

Bagni di Lucca Villa has a large open-air swimming pool (open Jun-Sept, 10am - 7pm) with a smaller shallow toddler pool and a diving pool with 1 metre and 4 metre diving boards. All of these are fed with water from a thermal spring and are surrounded by deckchairs and sun umbrellas, use of which is included in the admission charge. Admission is €7 for adults and €5 for children (3-13 years).

* Thermal Baths *

The spas in Bagni di Lucca were already important during Ligurian, Lombard, Roman and Etruscan times. By the 12th century the spa was so famous that Countess Matilda of Tuscany made it more accessible by improving the surrounding roads and constructing the Devil‟s Bridge at nearby Borgo a Mozzano. During the 15th century the reputation of the spas was high enough to raise Bagni di Lucca to the same level as the spas at Karlsbad, Spa, Baden and Vichy throughout Europe.

Today the nineteen hot springs still flow from the slopes of the Corsena hill and the therapeutic value of the waters remains incontestable. The waters reach temperatures up to 54 degrees centigrade and all sorts of treatments are available to cure respiratory problems, traumatic injuries, gynaecological and fertility problems, nervous conditions, and problems of the arteries and rheumatism. Some of the baths are good for the skin and others for general health and well-being.

How to get there

Cheap flights to Pisa are available from most UK and European airports via a number of airlines and Casa Marginetta is just 47 km from the airport - under an hour by car.

Birmingham, Bournemouth, Coventry, Dublin, Doncaster/Sheffield, Edinburgh, Glasgow, Liverpool, London Gatwick, London Stansted and Nottingham (East Midlands) with Ryanair.

Bristol, London Luton and London Gatwick with easyJet.

Coventry, London Gatwick and Manchester with ThomsonFly.

Belfast, Edinburgh, Leeds/Bradford, Manchester and Newcastle with Jet2.

London Gatwick with British Airways.

Alghero, Alicante, Bari, Billund, Bremen, Brussels, Constanta, Eindhoven, Frankfurt, Girona, Hamburg, Lamezia, Malta, Oslo, Paris, Porto, Seville, Stockholm, Trapani and Valencia with Ryanair.

Köln/Bonn, Stuttgart and Hanover with TUIfly .
Berlin and Paris with easyJet.
Prague and Vienna with SkyEurope.
Ålesund and Oslo with Norwegian.
Catania and Palermo with WindJet.
Amsterdam with Transavia.
Barcelona with ClickAir.

Also available are competitive flights to other nearby airports (under 2 hours):

Flights to Genoa and Parma from London Stansted with Ryanair.

Flights to Florence from:
London Gatwick with Meridiana.
Amsterdam, Barcelona, Berlin, Budapest, Cagliari, Catania, Madrid, Olbia, Palermo and Praha with Meridiana.it

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Convenient car hire is available at Pisa airport from all major operators. We prefer Hertz.

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Trains run from Pisa Airport to Diecimo-Pescaglia via Lucca.

Activities near Lucca - Garfagnana

Facilities

Further details indoors:
• Enjoy numerous digital TV and radio channels from the BBC, ITV, BSkyB etc. via satellite
• Main and portable TVs each with their own INDEPENDENT satellite receivers for multiroom viewing
• Two DVD players with a library of DVD movies, general entertainment and children's programmes
• Dolby 'surround sound' home cinema system
• CD/Radio/HiFi
• Sony 'Playstation 2' console with a library of games
• Motorola walkie-talkies
• Two Italian pay-as-you-go mobile telephones
• Two Electric pedestal fans
• Bread maker
• Brita water filter jug

Further details outdoors:
• Take a deep breath of fresh Tuscan air as you enjoy the panoramic views from our traditional terraced garden.
• Stroll around the ancient cobbled village and chat to the locals in a safe, traffic-free environment.
• Relax and catch a few rays on the chestnut sun deck. Recliners are provided.
• Feeling peckish? Why not enjoy the simple pleasures of food freshly cooked on the gas bar-b-que, conveniently located at the other end of the garden terrace ... A family-sized picnic table is provided too.
• Pick fresh mint, figs, plums and blackcurrants from the garden.

Further details

At Casa Marginetta we believe in offering you total fairness and flexibility:

• Families always welcome ... we have never charged extra for school holidays :)
• Arrive any day of the week you like ... whatever suits you best.
• Stay for the exact number of nights you want ... no need to pay by the week.
• If it's available, it's yours ... secure any booking with just a 10% deposit.
• Unforeseen difficulties? ... A fluent English/Italian speaker is on hand to help you overcome them easily.

Rental rates

Period	From	To	Weekly	Nightly rate		Minimum  stay
				Weekday	Weekend
Summer Season	1 May 09	1 Nov 09	350£ 350	5050	5050	3 Nights
Winter Season	1 Nov 09	1 May 10	245£ 245	3535	3535	3 Nights
Summer Season	1 May 10	1 Nov 10	350£ 350	5050	5050	3 Nights
Winter Season	1 Nov 10	1 May 11	245£ 245	3535	3535	3 Nights

The property's weekend rates apply to: Friday and Saturday nights

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

** SPECIAL OFFER - BEAT THE EXCHANGE RATE, CREDIT CRUNCH AND BAD WEATHER BLUES**

• For bookings made strictly before the end of December 2009, on all stays of 10 nights or more we are offering you a massive £100 off, or 2 extra nights, a free welcome pack and free use of the air conditioner or electric blankets.

• You can book any dates in 2009 and 2010 you like - even during school holidays - subject to availability of course!

• See our web-site for more details.

* Other Charges *

• There is a service charge of £50 per person per booking to cover preparation, laundry etc.

• Winter Season add £20 per night for central heating.

* Payments *

• Only 10% deposit required at time of booking. No more to pay until 8 weeks before occupancy.

• We can accept UK payments by cheque or bank transfer in GBP.

• We can accept international payments by PayPal or in Euro banknotes sent by registered post.

* Options *

• Electric blankets available for just £1 per person per night.

• Air conditioning available in Master Bedroom for just £2 per night.

• Welcome pack available for just £10.

Guestbook for Casa Marginetta

"Convalle really is a charming place ... we settled in straight away ... exposed chestnut beams and cotta tiles had a delightfully natural feel which was perfectly complemented by the decor ... peaceful sleep in comfortable bedrooms full of character made the stresses and strains of everyday life seem miles away ... one of the best holidays we've ever had."
Dave, Joan and family

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"We loved Casa Marginetta and were especially surprised at the warm welcome we received from the locals ... no English was spoken, but there were plenty of smiles ... we were even given a basket of home-grown fresh vegetables by a neighbour ... wow! what a taste."
Chris and Marion

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"We visited Lucca and had fun climbing the 'Torre Guinigi' ... The ancient oak trees growing on the roof were an unusual feature ... Lucca seemed to be choc-full of unique shops, both big and small, scattered all over the 'maze-like' old town ... We also found many lovely cafés to enjoy our 'espressos', including our favourite in the magnificent ancient oval 'Piazza Anfiteatro' ... we would like to say a big 'Thank you' to Trudi and Steve for letting us experience their wonderful home."
John and Valerie

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"Pisa was breathtaking ... San Gimignano, Siena, Florence and Viareggio were magnificent in their own way ... We have so enjoyed our time in the house, so cool in the heat ... we are relaxed and refreshed, just what we wanted from a holiday."
Elva, Bashir, Saira and Jamie.

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"Never before have we been anywhere where the owners have been so thoughtful ... the information provided by them certainly made for a stressless holiday - many, many thanks ... the village is so peaceful and the surrounding countryside so beautiful."
Chris and George

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"Weather was fantastic ... woke every morning with the sun on my face ... went swimming with the children at Forte dei Marmi and Pisa ... even in mid October the sea was still warm and delightful ... drove over the mountains to Modena which was particularly beautiful as the leaves were turning ... we found the house a happy, organised place to stay, and the children loved all the games, DVDs and the kittens they found in the village to play with!"
Lucinda, Henry, Willoughby and James

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"Me and my family had a lovely time in Lucca where we went on some bikes around the city walls ... then we went to Florence and saw an otter."
Ella (aged 9)

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"From swimming in a thermal pool in Bagni di Lucca to the classical concerts in Barga to the Medici chapels in Firenze, we have had a fabulous time ... the villagers made us feel very welcome ... the views are wonderful and the house is well organised .... we enjoyed going to Lucca as you can relax and walk on top of the ramparts ... Barga is a beautiful old town too ... thank you, thank you, thank you!"
Sophia (aged 12)

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"We have had the most fantastic weather this week ... the skiing was fantastic ... perfect conditions!"
Mike and Sophie

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"Skiing was excellent in Abetone as was food and service at 'La Fonte'."
The Pearson family

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"Back at Casa Marginetta for the second time ... skiing in Abetone was fantastic ... great snow, great mountains, some challenging skiing ... Happy New Year Steve and Trudi!"
Vikki, Tony, Neil and Louise

... you can find many more quotes from our former guests together with loads of other information on our web-site.

Availability

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

Send Enquiry

To contact this advertiser please visit: http://www.holidaylettings.co.uk/76603

Contact details for the advertiser of home 76603
Name:	Steven Palmer
Mobile:	+44 (0)7767 391248
Languages:
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Advertiser joined: Dec 2008