Holiday Cottage near Porretta Terme, Emilia Romagna
16 Century Hillside Character Cottage in Tuscan Appennines
Mountain Views, Peaceful and Quiet
Sleeps 6/8 (3 Bedrooms)
|
|
This rustic, C16th stone house is in a quiet hillside hamlet on the Emilia, Tuscany border, making it ideal for visiting Tuscany or Emilia Romagna. It has chestnut wood floors and ceilings, open fireplace, bedrooms with views, wine cellar and wood store. The house is in an idyllic setting away from tourism. The hamlet and its traditional way of life has remained unchanged for hundreds of years. The house is within 10 mins of village shops and a train station and is within easy reach of Pisa, Lucca, Florence and Bologna (all 1hr or less) and close to the quiet spa town of Porretta with restaurants and bars. It is ideal for people with a spirit of adventure who want to experience an authentic glimpse of rural Italy in one of the last corners of Tuscany/Emilia still untouched by tourism. The area is well known for skiing, walking, food, wine and festivals. The small road leading to the house from the main road is a steep drive (about 1km). The property is a home, not a hotel. It is querky
|
|
Prices Currency Conversion
| Rental periods | |
| 1 - 14 March 2008 | £400 |
| 15 - 28 March 2008 | £600 |
| 29 March - 27 June 2008 | £500 |
| 28 June - 29 August 2008 | £600 |
| 30 August - 26 September 2008 | £500 |
| 27 September - 19 December 2008 | £400 |
| 20 December 2008 - 2 January 2009 | £600 |
| 3 January - 25 March 2009 | £400 |
Notes on prices
Prices are for the property per week in UK pounds.
If you are an artist or photographer and are willing to provide a piece of work, substantial discounts are available for contributing to the Casa Castagna gallery.
Discounts available for long lets. Daily rates can also be negotiated. Reductions for couples.
Changeover day
Flexible.
Accommodation
| Bedrooms: | The bedrooms have mountain views, wooden shutters and antique furniture. Bedroom 1 has a double bed and beamed chestnut ceiling. Bedroom 2 has a double bed, beamed chestnut ceiling and chestnut floors. Bedroom 3 has bunk beds and a cot. |
| Bathrooms: | Large, new bathroom with shower, WC, bidet, sink and washing machine. |
| Kitchen: | The kitchen retains its original stone stove and open fire. It has a 4-ring stove, fridge freezer, grill, oven and kettle. It is basic but well-stocked with a large table sitting 8. |
| Utility Room: | Washing machine in the bathroom. Clothes horse available. Line in the garden. |
| Living Rooms: | The lounge, with a dining table seating 10 and sofabed, has children’s toys and a variety of games (monopoly, cards etc) as well as audio tape player, CD, radio, stereo system, TV and DVD, and a range of films, CDs and tapes. |
| Other: | Visitors are encouraged to pick the fruit from the orchard when in season and to hang hammocks (3 provided in cupboard under the stairs). |
| Cleaning/towels/ linen/maid service: |
All linen and towels are included. The property and linen is cleaned between visits. Additional cleaning visits can be arranged with the owner. It is a home and not a hotel so expect some personal effects. |
Notes on accommodation
The heating system must be manually activated. The hamlet is safe for children to explore and the house caters for children, containing a child's high chair, cot and a number of children's toys and books.
- hob/stove,
- oven,
- fridge/freezer,
- washing machine,
- tv,
- telephone,
- central heating,
- cot,
- high chair,
- pets accepted
Accessibility
Very difficult for wheelchair users.
Outside
Visitors are encouraged to pick the fruit from the orchard above the house and at the end of the bottom garden when in season and to hang hammocks (3 provided). There are gardens and a private chestnut wood (3000m2) where children can play and next to no traffic, making the hamlet safe for children to explore. Some parts of the woodland are steep, although other areas have paths that can be more easily accessed. The grass is regularly cut and we picnic in the gardens but they are not manicured. You'll see lizards on the stone walls! The villagers (rarely more than 10) meet some nights in the summer in the hamlet's tiny square. The woodland is renowned for mushrooms, (porcini and truffles), and chestnuts and is home to deer, wild boar, owls, woodpeckers, snakes, cuckoos, porcupine and other fauna. There are stunning mountain walks leaving from outside the front door, one of which leads to an abandoned village 1km up the mountain. It's not for the faint-hearted.
Coast/Beach
Nearest beach is 60 kms. A near-by lake (20 min drive) has beaches, picnic areas and pedalos.
Skiing
There are 3 ski resorts close to the house. Abetone, 30 kms away, is the best in the Appenines with stunning views of Emila and Tuscany. It has an extensive network of slopes mainly for intermediate level skiers. Closer but smaller are Lizzano in Belvedere and Corno alle Scale, both approx. 30-mins drive. Specials deals are available on ski passes. For info, call owner. Some ski equipment (salopettes etc.) is available at the house and can be borrowed with the owner's agreement. The Appennines have an excellent network of marked trails and mountain refuges organised by the Italian Alpine Club which has a main branch in Bologna. A recognised national footpath passes by the house and takes walkers to as high as 1441m to mountain ridges offering stunning panoramic views of the Appenines, Emilia and Tuscany. From one local peak, visitors can see both coasts of Italy and as far as Mont Blanc!
Travel
Car hire is strongly recommended. The nearest airports are Florence, Bologna and Pisa, all roughly 1hr away, (Bologna Forli 2hrs). The nearest ferry port is Livorno at 80kms.
Distances
10 mins to village shops and a train station and within easy reach of Pisa, Barga, Lucca, Florence and Bologna (all 1hr or less), the quiet spa town of Porretta Terme (20 mins) and 25kms from Pistoia. Fabulous restauarnt in Maresca just 20 minutes away.
Further details
Emilia Romagna, is Italy's finest culinary region, home of balsamic vinegar, parmesan cheese and parma ham and Tuscany is renowned for its fantastic wine, making this house perfectly placed for foodies. Maresca, 20 mins away, has a top-class restaurant listed in Italian best-food guides, which serves seasonal, delicious and very reasonable local food and wine. Carmignano, less than 30 mins from the house, is known for wines that marry Sangiovese, Canaiolo and Cabernet grapes (as well as local olive oil and grappa) and wine tasting are available in lots of local vineyards. Excellent wine can also be found in all local Enoteche (specialist wine bars). Because of the area's superb culinary traditions, there are a profusion of food festivals (sagre) all year round, ranging from chestnut sagre to the famous white truffle sagre, held in Marradi, about 1hr from the house, in Autumn. In the summer local sagre in near-by villages include polenta, wild boar, venison and ravioli.
The area is home to many music festivals in the summer, including Italy's best blues and jazz festivals. Pistoia holds the world famous Pistoia Blues festival every July, as well as the Giostra dell Orto, a jousting medieval processing also held in the Summer. Porretta holds the Porretta Jazz festivals each summer, with past guests including the likes of Buddy Guy. Many local towns also throw medieval parties in the summer - joisting, parades, processions - and Prato has an annual national Comic Book Conference in the spring and Prato Estate (July/August) is a living arts festival including open-air theatre, concerts and films held each year. Nearby San Miniato is home to antique and craft festivals on the third and first Sundays of every month. An antique market, often including a stall selling only fascist memorabilia to the strains of military music, as well as antiques and paintings, is held every Sunday in Pracchia's town square (15-minute drive).
Booking notes
A refundable deposit of £150 requested with booking, along with half the booking fee. The remainder to be paid within two weeks of travel.
Guest comments
'What a wonderful holiday we had at Casa Castagna - thank you. The house and scenery are amazing, it was so beautiful especially with all the autumn colours, and exciting for the children (and us!) to hear owls every night and see deer and lizards. It was a really different and great experience and we hope we might stay there again sometime soon. We're raving about it to all our friends'. Bridget Keehan, Ireland Oct 2007
'A very special and memorable 2 weeks. The house, the surroundings and wonderful hospitality of the village people made us truly relax and feel special. One of the best holidays we've ever had. I would warmly recommend the house to anyone.' Tracey McCarthy, New Zealand, Aug 2003.
'Great house, fantastic views, beautiful weather', Robin Frances, England, May 2003.
'Most relaxing and enjoyable stay, thanks'. Neil Birney, Scotland, April 2003.
'A wonderful time, relaxing peaceful setting, many thanks', Stella Sheehan, Ireland, June 2003 (honeymooning).
House swap
House swap considered.
For booking and further information
Candida Jones
Tel: (UK) + 44 (0)777 5754 763
Email: Click here
International Dialling Access Codes:
From Europe dial 00 in place of +
From USA dial 011 in place of +
If phoning from outside Europe or USA please consult your telephone directory for international dialling access codes.
This advertiser joined Owners Direct in February 2007,
and has advertised this property with us since February 2007.
Property Ref IT1174
When contacting the owner please mention that you saw this property on Owners Direct Website.