IL RIVO

Enlarge

1 of 18

loading photos

• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 

Farmhouse |3 bedrooms |Sleeps 6

Vellano in Pescia

from £57 / night

£399–£599 / weekBookable online

This property can be booked securely online within a few minutes. Just click on the ‘Check availability and book’ button.

7 nights minimum stay

Changeover flexible

Be the first to write a review

Key info  Balcony/terrace, car essential, private garden, may take pets - please enquire

Check availability and book

About the home

IL RIVO is suitable for couples, groups of friends and families alike. Sleeps 6 comfortably, but can accommodate 7, plus baby cot.

IL RIVO is an independent, lovingly renovated traditional stone farmhouse in Northern Tuscany combining rustic charm with modern conveniences. Thick stone walls, chestnut beamed ceilings, stylish bathrooms, some antique furniture and colourful interior decor make Il Rivo a unique experience. Set amidst olive groves, surrounded by pine, acacia, and fruit trees with glorious views over the surrounding densely wooded hillsides studded with medieval hilltop villages, Il Rivo and environs provide a taste of typical Tuscan living in a real 'get away from it all' location, but with many famous tourist attractions on the doorstep. A terrace with grassed subathing area and a vine-clad pergola for 'al fresco' dining offer wonderful respite after a days sightseeing whilst enjoying the magnificent view across the valley.

3 Bedrooms: 2 double with kingsize beds, 1 twin with bunk beds. There is also an iron daybed (large single) in an inner hallway. Sleeps maximum of 7 plus travel cot for baby.
3 Bathrooms: 1 en-suite, 1 family and 1 shower/WC on the ground floor.
Kitchen: fully equipped with open fireplace, table and chairs.
Living/Dining Room: chestnut beams and stone walls, TV/DVD, CD/Tape, sofa, lounge chairs, dining area with dining table and chairs- seating for 8 persons.
Central heating throughout the property.
Internet access.

Children's' facilities include: highchair, cot (linen), toybox, books.

Facilities

Further details indoors:
The property has been sensitively renovated including the original terracotta floor tiles upstairs. Some of the furniture is antique. The layout of the house allows for two sets of adults to have their own privacy as the two double bedrooms are at opposing ends of the house, the main bedroom has an en-suite bathroom and the dual aspect double bedroom is close to the second bathroom which opens off the upstairs hallway. The twin bedroom with bunk beds is nearer to the main bedroom.
The en-suite bathroom has a fully tiled walk-in shower area, bath, bidet, WC & sink; the fully renovated family bathroom has a shower enclosure, bidet, WC and sink; the ground floor shower room has a WC and sink.
All upstairs windows are fitted with retractable insect screens.

The ground floor storage room houses the boiler and washing machine.
As well as an open fireplace, the kitchen also has a woodburning range cooker for the winter months.

There is a small library upstairs with a variety of books ranging from psychoanalysis to fairies, and in the living room there are guide books, maps and a selection of CD's encompassing opera, classical, blues, jazz and rock. The kitchen has a selection of cookery books.

There is broadband internet access at the property.

CHILDREN'S FACILITIES: The owners have children so the house is equipped with various baby and children's effects, toys, puzzles, books; collapsible baby cot and stairgate - most are stored away when children are not visiting. Cot bedlinen supplied. Solid wooden highchair (chair can be lifted out to convert to kids table and chair). Wooden toybox with lid in Living Room. English speaking babysitter can be recommended.

Further details outdoors:
A terrace runs along the front of the house where a vine-clad pergola provides welcome shade for 'al fresco' dining, at a table made from an ancient stone olive-press mill wheel, while enjoying the fabulous view. The terrace also has a fruit tree with swing and a grassed area with sunbeds for soaking up the sun, and space to erect a paddling pool for children.
Wooden cabana for storing wood and outdoor furniture.
Wooden car port for one car and parking/turning area for two cars.
A fenced grass and stone pathway leads from the car port down and around to the front of the house. This path is a little too steep for the elderly or infirm although there is a wooden fence to offer support.

If visiting in May/June fireflies dance down on the lower terraces - wonderul at dusk.
At night guests may hear wild boar (cinghiali) rummaging through the vegetation down on the terraces, they are notoriously shy creatures so won't be seen or heard in daylight or when humans are about.
Deer are occasionally sighted, although again, they are very shy of any human contact.

Further details

The local manager speaks English, German and Italian and will meet guests upon arrival to show them around the property and provide a key. She can also be contacted to deal with any problems should they arise.

A welcome pack can be provided if requested - local charge.

Conditions

CHEAPER MID-WEEK START - TAKE ADVANTAGE OF CHEAPER FLIGHTS!
We are flexible on chageover days and are happy to offer bookings starting on any day of the week including weekends, subject to availability, in order for guests to take advantage of cheaper flights. .

Refundable security deposit of £200 payable.

A deposit of 30% is needed to secure a booking, the balance is payable not less than 60 days prior to commencement of booking.

Photos

 

Enlarge

Il Rivo in foreground below Vellano

 

Enlarge

From Il Rivo - view across the valley after a rainstorm

 

Enlarge

Master bedroom, doorway to en-suite

 

Enlarge

En-suite bathroom

The Tuscany / Pistoia Province region

Il Rivo is situated in Northern Tuscany away from the tourist trail, but still within easy reach of the rest of Tuscany, Emilia Romagna, Liguria etc.

Lucca can be reached in 30 minutes - a cycle around the walls is a must for adults and children, or take a stroll around the wonderful shops followed by a crisp glass of prosecco or a warming mug of hot chocolate in one of the lovely squares. For the more cultural, there is a cathedral and a lovely theatre and many local music or opera festivals throughout the year. And of course restaurants - there are some recommendations in the house.
Florence is an hour away - wonderul art, sculpture, shops, music, food, wine ....
Pisa has the Leaning Tower - now open to the public after many years restoration.
Vinci - birthplace of Leonardo is about 1hour away, there is a very interesting museum depicting Leonardo's works.
Nearby the Roman spa town of Montecatini Terme is only 20 minutes away.
The Tuscan Riviera is 50 minutes away - Viareggio and Forte dei Marmi.
If you're feeling brave, then a trip up to the marble quarries at Carrara is exciting - beware the precipitous drops!
Torre del Lago the seaside town famous for it's annual Puccini Festival held from mid-July to mid-August is about an hour away.
Bagna di Lucca is about half an hour north of Lucca - a lovely area to visit.
The popular skiing resort of Abetone is just over an hour north of Vellano.
We've done day trips to Siena, Volterra, Arezzo and Cortona -even with kids! Perugia and Assisi are probably best with an overnight stay if travelling with young children.

The Pescia / Vellano area

Il Rivo is on the hillside below the hilltop village of Vellano, perched at 2,000ft, the capital of 'Svizzera Pesciatina', the landscape is truly beautiful - a painters paradise! Olive groves cling to terraced hillsides studded with ancient vines; medieval villages, sometimes veiled in cloud, nestle amongst the canvas of trees. There are many ancient footpaths linking these villages. Vellano is largely car free, with narrow steep cobbled streets winding beneath stone archways and typical high-walled houses.

Pescia is the nearest town, about 12 minutes down the hill. It is a wealthy market town, famous for it's cut flower market, and has an ancient square lined with smart shops. A jazz festival is held late July/early August and a medieval Palio is held in late August/early September.
October is chestnut festival time: locals gather chestnuts from the woods and roadsides and roast them in huge perforated pans in villages and then serve them with rustic wine, and, if you're lucky, in Vellano, accompanied by live jazz.

Several excellent, very reasonably priced restaurants are within easy reach of Vellano - serving wonderful typical Tuscan cuisine using fresh local produce. Cycling and trekking are popular sports in this part of Tuscany. There are several attractive SWIMMING POOLS within easy reach - one with a big water slide for the kids!

A cheap and very efficient train service links Pescia to Lucca and Pisa Airport eastwards, and Montecatini, Prato, Pistoia and Florence to the west.

How to get there

IL RIVO What's nearby: Attractions Restaurants Click map icons for more information

Reset Map

Flights : Pisa (50mins) is the nearest airport - British Airways, Ryanair and EasyJet have several flights a day to/from Pisa from London Gatwick as well as other regional UK airports. Bologna (1hr 45mins) and Genoa (2hrs 15mins) - Ryanair and BA fly to both. Florence (1hr) 10mins away - Meridiana fly from Gatwick. Car Hire : recommendations are Avis (www.Avis.com); Holiday Autos (www.holidayautos.com); Auto Europe (www.auto-europe.co.uk). If the car rental rate doesn't include refundable excess it is worth considering taking out an Excess Insurance policy, suggested sites: www.insurance4carhire.com ; www.insuremycarhire.com ; www.protectyourbubble.com

Activities near Pescia

Rental prices

Prices for group size 6
Period	From	To	Weekly	Nightly rate		Minimum  stay
				Weekday	Weekend
Low Season	16 Jan 13	30 Mar 13	399£ 399	-	-	1 Week
Mid Season	30 Mar 13	29 Jun 13	500£ 500	-	-	1 Week
High Season	29 Jun 13	31 Aug 13	600£ 600	-	-	1 Week
Mid Season	31 Aug 13	2 Nov 13	500£ 500	-	-	1 Week
Low Season	2 Nov 13	19 Apr 14	399£ 399	-	-	1 Week

The property does not have weekend tariffs.

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

CHEAPER MID-WEEK START - TAKE ADVANTAGE OF CHEAPER FLIGHTS! We are happy to offer bookings starting on any day of the week in order for guests to take advantage of cheaper mid-week flights. Alternative arrival dates, including Saturdays, subject to availability. INCLUDED: water, gas (not central heating), electricity, good quality bedlinen, bath towels, beach/pool towels, cot linen, firewood. NOT INCLUDED: charge for gas used for central heating; an interim clean/change of bedlinen can be arranged during your stay for an extra charge. Deposit: 30% of the total letting price is payable at time of booking subject to confirmation of availability. The balance is payable not later than 60 days before start of rental period. Bookings made less than 60 days prior to start of rental period will be subject to full payment upon confirmation of booking. Refundable Security Deposit: £200 required with full payment.Supplements: Christmas/New Year and Easter - £50pw. Charge for extra 7th person: £25pw. INSURANCE: We strongly recommend that guests purchase holiday/cancellation insurance at the time of booking.

Availability

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