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Swimming pool terrace
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Living room with fireplace
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In this very special corner of Tuscany, you will find peace and tranquility, with only the sounds of owls hooting in the woods and church bells to break the silence. Here you will find neither tour buses nor summer crowds, just the relaxed pace of the countryside. Casa della Quercia is a Grade-A listed historic building which has been meticulously restored by its Anglo/American owners to retain the atmosphere of the original 16th century priest's house. Designed as the owner's second home, not a rental property, the renovations and furnishings are of the highest quality. The villa is spacious and extremely comfortable, with air-conditioning in bedrooms, and fireplaces in the living room and kitchen for cooler evenings. The house overlooks olive groves and the chestnut-wooded hillsides and mountain peaks of the Apuan Alps National Park. It is located 50 miles north of Lucca, and a 50 minute drive from the coastal villages and famed seafood restaurants of the Cinque Terre.
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Patio view
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Zanzibar suite with view of mountains
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Rental periods |
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| 3 - 24 May |
£1000 |
| 24 - 31 May |
£1000 |
| June |
£1300 |
| July / August |
£1500 |
| September |
£1200 |
Notes on prices
Prices are for the property per week in UK Pounds.
We also require a refundable breakages/security deposit of £250 per let, which will be refunded within two weeks after vacating the property. This deposit can be paid into the UK bank account before arriving at the villa.
Changeover day
Changeover day can be flexible off-season, but it must be Saturday in July and August.
| Accommodation |
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| Bedrooms: |
Bedroom 1 has two antique carved mahogany beds imported from Zanzibar (size: French double), French windows with magnificent views, wood cathedral ceiling, antique furnishings. Both bedrooms have air conditioning. Bedroom 2 has 2 singles or 1 queen bed. |
| Bathrooms: |
En-suite marble bathroom to bedroom 1 with bath/shower, sink, and wc, underfloor heating and views of the church next door and the mountains. En-suite bathroom for bedroom 2 has shower, sink, wc, hairdryer and underfloor heating. |
| Kitchen: |
The kitchen was hand-built by a local craftsman in chestnut wood and has a 5-burner stove with rotisserie oven, fridge, dishwasher, espresso maker with complimentary coffee (Lavazza), fireplace, and French windows with spectacular views of the mountains. |
| Utility Room: |
The utility room is situated on the lower story of the house and includes clothes washer, clothes dryer, iron and ironing board, and sink. |
| Living Rooms: |
The living room is spacious with a soaring cathedral ceiling and is designed around a traditional Tuscan stone fireplace. Seating includes 1 sofa (seats 3) and 2 armchairs. TV with Sky channels, DVD player, a library of DVD disks, and books on Italy. |
| Other: |
The separate dining room has a floor of antique terra-cotta tiles, a chestnut-beamed ceiling, original art, and a table that seats 6 to 8. There is a hatch through to the kitchen; also a stereo system, and high-speed internet with laptop computer (PC). |
Cleaning/towels/
linen/maid service: |
Property is cleaned weekly. More frequent cleaning and changing of towels and linens can be arranged by request. Linens, towels and pool towels are provided, and freshly-laundered bath robes are provided for each visiting adult. |
Notes on accommodation
There is central heating throughout, air-conditioning in both bedrooms, under-floor heating in bathrooms, and fireplaces in the living room and kitchen for cooler evenings. There are also screens on most of the windows. Solar panels on the roof provide hot water in the summer months. There are courtyards, terraces and surrounding meadows, olive groves, and woodlands where children can ramble; however, the land can be steep in places, and younger children should supervised.
| Amenities/Facilities provided |
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| hob/stove |
oven |
fridge/freezer |
dishwasher |
| washing machine |
tumble dryer |
iron/ironing board |
satellite tv |
| telephone |
internet access |
central heating |
air conditioning |
| barbecue |
private pool (for sole use of guests) |
Accessibility
Accommodations are on the top floor of the house. It is all on one level, though the dining room is one step down from the living room. The top terraces are easily accessible, but the pool terrace is only accessible by steps.
Outside
The private hillside terraces and olive groves of Casa della Quercia total about 3 acres and face the south/southwest, with stunning views of the mountains. There are sunbathing areas and a dining terrace with barbecue located next to the house; the pool is accessed by taking two flights of steps, on a terrace located further down the hillside. The pool size is 3.5m x 7m. Pool towels are provided, and there is plenty of outdoor lounging furniture. There are also many private sunbathing and sitting areas in the olive grove and on the various terraces.
Coast/Beach
The house is about 45 minutes from the beautiful Mediterranean town of Lerici, and about 50 mins from Portovenere, renowned for its waterfront seafood restaurants. Boats leave from both these ports for trips to the picturesque fishing villages of the Cinque Terre. The Mediterranean beaches of the Versilia coast are about an hour away, and provide a typically Italian seaside experience, with beach clubs, sun umbrellas, and beachfront bars and restaurants.
Travel
Nearest International Airport is Pisa, about a one-and-a-half hour drive. A car is essential, and can be hired at Pisa. Also nearby are Florence and Genoa. Direct flights from UK to Pisa include: Belfast (Jet2), Bournemouth (Ryanair, Thomsonfly), Bristol (easyJet), Coventry (Thomsonfly), East Midlands (Ryanair), Edinburgh (Jet2), Glasgow (Ryanair, Thomsonfly), Doncaster (Ryanair), Leeds Bradford (Jet2), Liverpool (Ryanair), Manchester (BA, Jet2, Thomsonfly), Newcastle (Jet2) + 3 London airports.
Distances
Lucca 50 miles, Fivizzano 7 miles, Cinque Terre 30 miles, Carrara/Pietra Santa 25 miles, Aulla 15 miles, Florence 80 miles.
Further details
Casa della Quercia is located right next to the church on the edge of a small village. There are no shops in the village, but a van arrives every day around noon with fresh bread, and a fruit-and-vegetable van and delicatessen van come to the village once a week. The town of Casola, just 5 mins away, has several shops, including an excellent butcher, two greengrocers, a hardware store, a bank, and post office, restaurant/pizza parlour, and a cafe. There are many fine restaurants within a 20 minute drive, and one of the best, Lo Spino Fiorito, (lunch 10 Euros, dinner 20 Euros), is within walking distance of the house. During July and August, this restaurant hosts a Pool Party including outdoor dining with piano accompaniment, and a barbecue with porchetta (roast piglet) around the pool area, with live music. Guests are welcomed at the house with fresh flowers and a basket of local produce, olive oil and a bottle or two of our neighbor's home-made wine. If you would like us to shop for groceries for your arrival, please let us know and we will be pleased to provide these for you at cost. Note that the house is situated next to the church, and the bell chimes every hour throughout the day and the night. This adds to the charm of the place, and has not been a problem for any of the guests at the house so far; however, it may be a problem for very light sleepers, who might prefer to sleep in the guest bedroom which is at the other end of the house from the church. New bells were installed in the church tower (campanile) this winter which are much softer and melodious than the old ones, but ear plugs are provided free of charge just in case!
Booking notes
A 50 percent deposit is required to book the property. Full payment is requested two months before guests arrive at the property. In case of cancellation, a full refund will be granted if the property can be let again in the time remaining, less the costs of re-advertising the property. We regret that no refund can be given if a reservation is cancelled within 2 weeks of the reserved time.
Guest comments
"Just wanted to tell you what a wonderful week we had in Reusa. You really have made the place beautiful with lots of attention to detail and the setting is stunning. It was great to have the pool to cool off on in the heat and we had fun walking in the surrounding mountains. All the
local restaurants were great especially your local agriturismo which was fantastic value. We would certainly recommend the place to anyone who was thinking of a holiday in Tuscany, and thanks to Ron for having some delicious supplies ready for us on our arrival. We hope to revisit some time in the future." -- Julia R., London
"Is this paradise, or is that the next stop?" Gaynor from Wales
"What a remarkable place, definitely the best villa we have ever stayed at. Beautiful, incredibly well equipped, fantastic coffee! and all in a breathtaking location. Usually by the end of a holiday we are ready to go home, with this place we could happily stay on!" Lin & Simon, Southampton.
For booking and further information
G. Drake
Tel: (USA) +1 508 255 5084
Email: Click here
Owners Website: Click here
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This advertiser joined Owners Direct in February 2007,
and has advertised this property with us since February 2007.
Property Ref IT1165
When contacting the owner please mention that you saw this property on
Owners Direct Website.
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