Sorry - no pets allowed Not suitable for children under 5 No smoking at this property Self-catering
Early bargain: 9 May 2009 to 30 May 2009 Price: £399 per week.
Home description
Felicita means ‘happiness’ in Italian and is the right name for this house. The idyllic 360-degree view of the surrounding hills and mountains from the roof terrace makes you feel that you never want to be anywhere else! Tuck yourselves away in this totally unspoilt corner of Italy for a romantic holiday or honeymoon; escape and unwind in total comfort and tranquillity, with all the modern facilities you would expect. Its really hard to believe you’re staying in a 16th century house! In the tiny medieval village of Irola di Sotto, just walk 150 metres from your car, passing under charming vaulted passageways, turning the corner by the Madonna, past ancient portals to the edge of the village before arriving at the discreet entrance. Our guests guide gives you recommendations on where to eat and visit.
View from roof terrace
Irola from across the valley
Sitting room
Master bedroom
To see more photos please visit http://www.holidaylettings.co.uk/8311
The Tuscany region
In the northern corner of Tuscany, Lunigiana is an unspoilt area of breathtaking natural beauty, the region is set between the Apennine mountains and the Mediterranean sea.The region is dominated by the mountains of the Parco Alpi Apuane, from where Michelangelo choose the marble for his statues. The marble quarries are 45 minutes by car and are open to visitors. Cinque Terra is comprised of five extremely picturesque fishing villages. We recommend you take the boat from Lerici or La Spezia to enjoy this trip to the utmost.
For those who want to immerse themselves in Italian culture there are many places to visit; Genoa is a 1hr drive and well worth a visit. Florence is 1.5hrs drive or you can take the train from Villafranca. Lucca is a delightful city and is a 1hr drive away, where you can hire a bike and pedal around the city walls. If you enjoy opera then Parma or Genoa are both 1hr away.
The local area is scattered with castles built by the Malaspina family, and the Brunella fortress of Aulla houses the Lunigiana Museum of Natural History. Lunigiana is a veritable paradise for walkers, painters, photographers, and those who enjoy the simple pleasures of life.
Throughout the year, village ‘sagras‘, ‘festas’ and other celebrations are worth a visit. In the autumn there is the ritual of the chestnut harvest together with the hunt for porcini - the most highly prized variety of Italian mushroom.
Lunigiana / Villafranca area
There is an open air Olympic size swimming pool in Villafranca with high diving board, water fountains, children's pools and a large lawned picnic area, naturally shaded by chestnut trees and equipped with BBQ's. This facility is 10 minutes drive from the house and was completely refurbished during 2003. As the pool is open air, it is only open during the summer months.
There is a tennis club in Villafranca with indoor and outdoor courts. The nearest golf course is at Lerici (45mins). Mountain and forest walks are right outside your door. The high meadows are abundant with flowers and heavy with their perfume.
How to get there
Lunigiana is easily accessed by road, rail, or air. Three major airports at Pisa, Genoa and Parma serve the area and all are within easy driving distance on good motorways.
BY AIR: Many of the low cost airlines fly into the airports local to where the house is situated. Our three local airports are: Pisa, Parma and Genoa all of which are just one hour drive away on good motorways. Airlines that fly into these airports are, www.ryanair.com also www.britishairways.com and www.easyjet.com
BY CAR: From France the Mediterranean coast motorway runs through Genoa and on down the coast to La Spezia, Pisa, and Rome. Aulla, the gateway to Lunigiana, lies just off the motorway that connects La Spezia with Parma and the Adriatic coast motorway, which runs northwest to Milan, Switzerland and Germany.
Rail routes follow a very similar pattern.
GETTING AROUND: You will need a car to get around Lunigiana and it's quite easy with good roads. The rail connections are also very good as well as bus services between the major towns and cities. Please remember that Lunigiana is a rural area so bus services tend to be infrequent. A car is therefore essential. Hire cars are available at the airports and can be pre-booked with your air ticket.
Nearest Travel Links
Airport:
Pisa: 100 km
Railway:
Villafranca: 5 km
Ferry:
La Spezia: 30 km
Activities near Lunigiana
Sports: Tennis in town Waterpark Horse Riding Golf within 30 mins drive Fishing
Great for: Walking holidays Rural / countryside retreats Beach or lakeside relaxation Cycling holidays
Single beds (2), Double beds (1), Dining seating for 4, Lounge seating for 4, Sleeps maximum of 4
Other:
Linen and towels provided.
Outdoors:
Balcony / Terrace, BBQ
Further details indoors: The front door opens into a fully equipped kitchen/ dining room, with beamed ceiling and Tuscan fireplace. Passing through a low doorway and down three steps brings you into the small hall. Open plan chestnut stairs lead up to the master bedroom, a light and airy room with a King size bed, antique furniture, original terracotta tiled floor part covered by a beautiful hand-made Nepalese rug. The spacious bathroom has a vaulted ceiling, large bath, shower and bidet. The sitting room is equipped with wood burning stove, comfortable furniture, TV/DVD/CD, complimentary DVD/CD library, and has another beautiful view. The second bedroom has 2 single beds, a view over lichen decorated roof tiles and mile after mile of mountains and valleys. This is a delightful place to relax, enjoying the special life of a tiny village, with superb views and glorious sunsets. You can walk for miles in the surrounding countryside, or travel easily to the towns and cities of Tuscany.
Further details outdoors: The roof terrace (accessed from an external stone staircase) is equipped with barbeque and furnished for sun bathing, eating outdoors or simply enjoying panoramic views of the mountains. Next to the front door a small shaded balcony, which is particularly pleasant for a couple to breakfast during the hot summer months. A paradise for country lovers, at dawn and dusk it is possible to glimpse deer and even wild boar as they venture from cover in search of food, or watch golden eagles and other rare birds as they soar above the hills and down the valleys. We even supply the binoculars!
Further details
Suitability This three-story house with roof terraces is not suitable for young children, the 150m walk from the car steps and stairs make the house unsuitable for people of reduced mobility.
Rental rates
Rental prices originally quoted in: British £
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2 Jun 08
27 Sep 08
575£ 575
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27 Sep 08
2 May 09
425£ 425
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2 May 09
30 May 09
425£ 425
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30 May 09
26 Sep 09
575£ 575
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NB: Prices may be subject to change at the owner's discretion. The rental includes bed linen and towels (for use in the house). Electricity and gas are also included, however if there is excessive use we reserve the right to pass these charges on.
Guestbook
Wade and Angela Shields (Honeymoon) Kansas USA
We have had a fabulous time over the past week...this has been a wonderful de-stresser...we would LOVE to come back!
Ruth, Jean and Jennifer Murphy Dublin Eire
...it is a very beautiful and deeply relaxing place to be in. Felicita with its stunning views and melodic birdsong has brought us back to a pace of life that is more condusive to living a longer and healthier life-Thank you.
Sue, Bill, Briony and Rory Knipe Staffordshire England
...we have 2 very young children and so have spent quite a lot of time at the beach and the pool in Villafranca...our best memory will be the village people who have made us feel so welcome, we were invited to the Irola Festival and it was a wonderful example of Italian life and hospitality.
David, Rachel, Hannah (10) and Matthew (8) Benzies Cornwall England
A superbly relaxing and restful 2 weeks in an idyllic spot. The villa had everything one would wish for in a ‘home from home’. The views from the roof terrace were to die for. … the family vote to choose ‘Felicita’ was certainly justified as we’ve all had a fantastic two weeks.
Jane and Colin Hullis and Mary Smith Suffolk England
Felicita exceeded all our expectations - the location, the décor and layout and especially the rooftop terrace with its spectacular views of the hills and valleys ...barbecued several times making the fire from wood we collected from the forest, then of course watched the glorious sunsets..
Dean & Nora Francis Illinois USA
Your home was just as it was described on the website and your directions perfect! The views of the valley are beautiful. We spent several evenings on the terrace watching the sun set and the lights from the neighbouring towns come alive.
Lisa & Jeremy Hardy Suffolk England
The week here has been a perfect end to our honeymoon...your house is so warm and inviting, as are the locals and most Italians we have come across. We are just trying to work out if we can manage another week next year!
David & Sonia Holmes Berkshire England
Thank you so much, we had a lovely holiday, your house is so pretty, the views are fantastic, and the peace and quiet was just what we needed.
Availability notes
To see availability please visit http://www.holidaylettings.co.uk/8311
Click to view availability for this property.
Early bargain: 9 May 2009 to 30 May 2009 Price: £399 per week.
Contact owner
To contact this owner please visit: http://www.holidaylettings.co.uk/8311
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