Casa della Quercia is a beautiful villa situated on the edge of small village, with views of terraced gardens, olive trees, and the mountains beyond. The villa is spacious and comfortable, decorated with antique furniture and original art. The three floors of the villa contain 5 bedrooms/bathrooms, and an adjacent renovated stone barn adds a charming sixth bedroom/bathroom if needed for extra guests.
The owners set out to create a home-away-from-home where guests can relax and enjoy a carefree holiday amidst beautiful surroundings, far removed from the stress of the every-day world. The villa is equipped with everything you could need, including bath robes, wireless Internet, cable TV, and a fully-equipped chef's kitchen that includes chef's knives, stainless steel pots and pans, and essential appliances such as blender, food processor, and espresso machine. The kitchen still has the original marble-topped pasta making table. The villa is within walking distance of an excellent restaurant and is close to many small villages and walking trails through the woods and hillsides.
Casa della Quercia is located in northern Tuscany, a land of ancient castles, chestnut-wooded hillsides and mountain streams that seems far removed from the tour buses and crowds of the southern part of the province. It is a place where timeless country traditions and seasonal farming cycles still govern the pace of life, and the region remains mostly untouched by the modern age; here you will experience the tranquility and peace of the countryside, with only the sounds of owls hooting in the woods and church bells to break the silence. During the hottest days of the summer, it is just that bit cooler than the coast, and the surrounding countryside is always verdant, due to the many streams that tumble down from the mountain tops.
The property consists of three acres of olive groves, herb gardens, meadows and woodland, with several terraces and patios for outdoor dining and sunbathing, as well as various seating areas and nooks for quiet contemplation. The pool is accessed by two flights of stone steps which wind through the olive grove, and is surrounded by lavender, oleander, and rosemary. The villa looks out over the chestnut-wooded hillsides to the mountain peaks of the famed "marble mountains" of Carrara.
There are pool toys for the little ones and a sandbox located near the pool, and a ping-pong table in the newly renovated barn, along with work-out machines.
Located just 50 miles north of Lucca on the Via del Volto Santo, the ancient Pilgrim's Way to Florence, Casa della Quercia is 30 miles from the coastal villages and famed seafood restaurants of the Italian Riviera and the Cinque Terre.
Further details
The cantina is stocked with local homemade wine — guests are free to fill their bottles whenever they wish. Ron, one of the owners, lives in a neighboring village and is on hand at all times to offer advice, make reservations, and generally ensure that your holiday is as enjoyable and trouble-free as possible. He can also arrange a driver for train/airport pick-up for those who prefer not to drive in Italy, and also arrange day trips to Lucca and the Cinque Terra. We can also arrange for a team of chefs to come to the house to prepare a special meal for you. Our local restaurant, Spino Fiorito, will also prepare special meals on request for special occasions, complete with celebration cakes and fine wines.
Further details indoors
In typical Tuscan fashion, the villa has an outdoor staircase connecting the top and middle floors, so in essence it can function as two separate living suites. The house is furnished with Italian and English antiques, original oil paintings and oriental rugs, including some brought back from a trip to Morocco. The master suite on the top floor is the Zanzibar Suite, a large romantic bedroom with French doors overlooking the mountains, features a pair of canopied antique beds, carved from rosewood and mahogany and inset with painted glass hearts, imported from Zanzibar especially for this room. The master suite on the middle floor is the Venetian Suite, with a queen-sized pillow-top bed imported from the US and classic Venetian furnishings. A staircase from this room leads down to French doors which open out onto a private patio with stunning views of the Apuan Alps, and the adjacent en-suite luxury bathroom with hydro-massage bath tub and shower. The other three bedrooms (one on the top floor, the other two on the middle floor) feature twin beds that can be made up as queen-sized beds, and are furnished in classic Italian style. An adjacent renovated chestnut-drying house adds a sixth bedroom plus bathroom if needed.
The top and the middle floors of the villa has its own kitchen, dining area and living area with Sky TV and Internet access. There is a DVD player with an extensive collection of DVD disks, and a small library of books about Italy on the top floor.
Further details outdoors
The hillside terraces and olive groves of Casa della Quercia total about three acres and face the south/southwest, with stunning views of the Carrarra Mountains (Apuan Alps). There are patios for enjoying breakfast and morning coffee, and dining terraces with arbors and barbecue. The swimming pool (3.5 m x 7 m) is located further down the hillside, and is accessed by two flights of steps. Pool towels are provided, and there are plenty of sun beds and lounge chairs for enjoying the sun and the views. The terraces and pool area are planted with lavender and rosemary, wisteria and oleander. The property continues down the hillside, across the meadow and into the woods beyond to a little stream, should guests wish to go exploring. Deer and wild boar are often seen in this area, and eagles soar high above. The grounds and pool area can be lit up at night if you wish to have dinner or cocktails on any of the patios or around the pool. We have had a great response from children who stayed at Casa della Quercia, they love the freedom of being able to wander through the meadows, olive groves and woodland without worrying about busy roads. For younger children, there is a sand box by the pool well stocked with buckets and toys, and the large top terrace has gates that can be locked so they can play in that area without worry of them wandering off. Please note that the villa is located next door to the village church, and the bell chimes the hour all through the day — and the night. Most people are not bothered by this, but we do provide ear-plugs for light sleepers, or they can choose to sleep in one of the bedrooms farther away from the church.
