Traditional Country House with Pool in Extensive Private Gardens, 1.25 Hours Pisa Airport
Tranquil Location, 5 Minutes Drive / 20 minutes walk to Restaurant and Village with shops and bar
Sleeps 4/6 plus baby ( 2/3 Bedrooms)
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The key feature of the property is the outstanding natural beauty surrounding it and the large, private gardens to relax and play. It is very secure and safe for children. Secluded but not too remote, it is just under a mile from the village along a level tarmac, quiet woodland road. The main road from Diecimo to Piegaio is very good and gently rising - NOT a mountain road at this point. A great location for walking and cycling. The adjoining property is a private holiday home, not let. The original wood-burning pizza oven is great fun - you can buy pizza bases from the local restaurant or supermarket!
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| Rental Period | Per Night | Per Week | Per Month | Min. Stay (Nights) |
| 28 September 2011 - 8 October 2011 | £530 | 3 | ||
| 5 May 2012 - 25 May 2012 | £550 | 3 | ||
| 3 June 2012 - 29 June 2012 | £750 | 3 | ||
| 30 June 2012 - 6 July 2012 | £900 | 7 | ||
| 7 July 2012 - 31 August 2012 | £1090 | 7 | ||
| 1 September 2012 - 7 September 2012 | £900 | 7 | ||
| 8 September 2012 - 21 September 2012 | £650 | 3 | ||
| 22 September 2012 - 6 October 2012 | £550 | 3 |
Notes on prices
Prices are for the property per week in UK Pounds, for up to 6 people.
An infant using the cot as the 7th guest £50 per week, £35 minimum charge part week, otherwise no charge for the cot, high-chair. Electricity, gas, linen, all towels and cleaning are included in the rental. No extra costs. Heating included for Spring and Autumn. Discount for couples only and 2 week stays, not high season. Pool open May to September, pool towels included.
Special offers: 6 days in June, 9 days in August.
Changeover day
Main season: Change-over day Saturday, minimum stay 1 week. House available from 4pm. Vacate house by 10am. Garden, pool, 2nd bathroom available for late/early arrivals and departures. Flexible arrival, departures off-peak seasons, minimum stay 3 nights.
Accommodation
| Bedrooms: | Bedroom 1 with king-size bed. Bedroom 2 with twin single beds. The mezzanine is used as a 3rd bedroom, with 1 single and 1 pull-out, full-size single. There is a comfortable full-size double sofa bed in the lounge A cot and a high-chair are available |
| Bathrooms: | The first bathroom is off the mezzanine. Recently fitted, fully tiled with shower, basin and wc and good lighting. The second bathroom is accessed from the lower terrace, close to the pool, and is also fully tiled with basin, wc, bidet and large shower. |
| Kitchen: | The kitchen has an original large open fire-place, but the rest has been re-fitted: units with local granite tops, gas oven, dish-washer, fridge-freezer, toaster and a butcher's block. Well-equipped, well-lit, and separate from the sitting/dining room. |
| Utility Room: | The laundry is accessed from the lower terrace over-looking the main garden and pool. An automatic washer, stone sink, and a fridge for pool-side drinks are in here. The second bathroom is off this room. |
| Living Rooms: | The large porch has an original pizza oven with a wood store. Entrance is to the sitting/dining room, which has a sofa, a comfortable double sofa-bed, table & chairs. TV (for DVDs only), stereo system, coffee table. Windows at both ends; lovely cool room |
| Other: | The sitting room door leads in to the kitchen; there is a door from the kitchen to the stairs. The mezzanine, with 2 windows, can be used as another sitting room or bedroom. The 2 bedrooms and bathroom are off the mezzanine. There is a child safety gate. |
| Cleaning/towels/ linen/maid service: |
The house is professionally cleaned before guests arrive. A light clean is included with weekly linen change during two week stays. Pool towels are provided, one each per stay. Baby-sitter and extra cleaning available on request. |
| Amenities/Facilities: | hob/stove oven fridge/freezer fridge dishwasher washing machine iron/ironing board tv central heating room fans cot high chair barbecue private pool (for sole use of guests) |
| Suitability: | pets accepted |
| Location Type: |
Notes on accommodation
We have our own spring water supply, safe for drinking. The gas central heating is good and there are plenty of logs for cosy spring/autumn evenings around the pizza oven. There is a portable gas fire in the lounge. The stone walls are very thick, the roof is double-insulated and the floors are cotta tiled, so the house remains cool even on the hottest days, but there are fans should you need them. We did not need to install air-conditioning: the temperature falls significantly at night - the best of both worlds. All rooms have exposed chestnut beams. All windows have retractable mosquito screens. There are maps, guide books, games and novels for your use and dozens of pre-recorded films. Also binoculars for watching the wild-life, and shooting stars at night. We have a sturdy child-safety gate at the top of the stairs; there is a door with a high handle at the bottom. There is a hair-dryer, a landing night-light, everything we and you need for comfort.
Accessibility
Car parking adjoins the main garden; There is a gravel path across the flat garden to a few steps and a narrow sloping path to the lower terrace, then wide shallow sloping steps to the main terrace and entrance. The terraces are fully fenced and gated - very safe for small children, as they can not access the pool area. Our property is not suitable for the use of wheelchairs.
Outside
The pool is filled with our own spring water. We use oxygen for cleaning, not chlorine. It is cleaned and checked weekly. There is a solar cover which should be replaced at night to maintain the temperature. Pool size: 7.2m x 3.6m x 1.4m deep. Open May - September inclusive. Inflatable pool for infants. The main garden and lower terrace have tables, chairs, parasols and loungers. The top terrace has a table, large parasol, chairs and barbecue and original large wood-burning pizza oven. There is lighting across the garden and along the steps and paths, and a wall-lamp on the top terrace. There are plenty of trees to offer shade and plenty of places to bake in the sun. Children love the space to explore and play, but there are steep paths and some steps so infants should be supervised. There are hazelnut, almond, sweet chestnut, walnut, plum and cherry trees. The grass is cut every 10 days or so.
Coast/Beach
Driving over the mountain is a spectacular 45 minute journey to Camaiore, a superb beach resort, and Viareggio a few minutes further. The motorway route takes a little longer. There are bicycles, pedal cars, etc for hire in the pine woods in Viareggio and cafes, crazy golf and rides for young children. A great place for shade on a hot day.
Golf
The nearest 18 hole golf course is about 45 minutes drive.
Special interest holidays
Bicycles are for hire at the Porta S. Maria gate in Lucca. You can drive around the walls safely, no cars allowed, and get great views of the town. Horse-riding is available near Lucca.
Travel
Pisa airport: approx. 1 hour - 1.5 hours drive depending on the time of day as Lucca gets congested. Approx. 2 - 2.5 hours drive from Genoa airport, 1.5 hours from Firenze (Florence airport). There is a railway station at the bottom of the valley in Diecimo (10 minutes drive) with frequent links to Lucca, Pisa & Firenze. However, a car is essential.
Distances
Nearest restaurant and shops in Piegaio 5 mins drive / 20 minutes walk (just under a mile). Excellent restaurant which also offers pizza take-away and gluten-free menu. Diecimo, 10 mins drive, more shops, bank, restaurants, petrol. Borgo a Mozzano, 15 mins drive - all amenities, interesting old town, historic Devil's Bridge. Bagni di Lucca 20 mins. Lucca 20 mins.
Further details
Just 100 meters along the lane beyond our house is a famous blacksmith.
Carlo Galgani, last member of a long line of blacksmiths of Lucca, forges steel by hand with the help of the mighty "hammer", moved by the cascading water, properly channeled from the nearby stream Pedogna. Water also powers the generator for lighting and other machinery. The rush of air caused by cascading water is used as bellows for the furnace.
He is one of only two traditional blacksmiths using water power remaining in Italy.
He normally works on week day mornings and welcomes visitors. He sells his high quality knives, kitchen and garden tools, etc. (He is more interested in demonstrating than selling things).
Type his name into Google to see videos on You Tube.
Booking notes
Book by e-mail, dates will be held for 4 working days. 25% deposit by cheque (GBP only) or bank transfer (Euros or GBP). Deposit non-refundable. However, in case of cancellation, if we can re-let the period at the same rate we would refund in full. If we had to reduce the rate to re-let, you would be refunded the price difference. (Both less £20 admin fee). Balance due 8 weeks before departure plus £200 security deposit, refundable within 1 week of departure.
Guest comments
We were delighted with the property. It combines rustic character with all mod cons.
The house was lovely and cool, even when the temperature outside was in the mid-thirties. The lounge and bedrooms are comfortable, homely and the kitchen has everything you need. There's a small shower room with everything you need upstairs and a wet room in the cellar at garden-level - handy for the pool. Everything was immaculately clean for our arrival.
We enjoyed the outdoor space - the decking overlooking the pool is a real sun-spot, but there was always plenty of shade as well when it got too hot. Like the house, the pool was clean and was surprisingly big - it was lovely to soak in fresh spring water without the smell of chlorine.
The nearest village has a fantastic restaurant and a small shop.
All in all, a lovely place to get away from it all. We wouldn't hesitate to recommend it. R&K, Jun'10
House swap
House swap considered, Europe only. Village / town near beach, with pool.
Quiet location within 20 minutes walking distance of restaurants, shops, etc.
1 bedroom, couple only.
Owner profile
Chris checking the mail-box - no bills this time!
About the owner
I have been visiting Italy for 35 years, since meeting my 1/4 Italian husband. I had an Italian great-grand father, so we were naturally drawn to love Italy. We spent many holidays self-catering with our children over the years in different regions of Italy and gained lots of experience, both good and bad, of what is needed to make this type of holiday great. The freedom of self-catering holidays is so relaxing, if you have: a good location and easy access from main roads; very clean, comfortable and well-equipped accommodation; privacy; swimming pool and gardens; convenience of local amenities including an excellent local restaurant; value for money and 24/7 emergency contact. This is what we provide with pride at San Giuseppe, for our family and visitors. Enjoy the freedom!
Year purchased: 2006
Why the owner chose a home in this location
Northern Tuscany has been my favourite area of Italy for many years, having visited most regions. It has so many historic towns, beautiful scenery, beaches and mountains. I chose this specific area for it's natural beauty, tranquility and ease of access to the motorway for Pisa airport, visiting historic towns, the coast and the mountains. Lucca is a wonderful town but so hot in the Summer - being 15/20 minutes drive into the hills we benefit from hot but not 'airless' days and also enjoy cooler nights - we always sleep comfortably - a perfect combination. It is not as 'touristy' as southern Tuscany so local restaurant, bar and shop prices are much more reasonable, and very friendly: so important for families on holiday. Walking, golf, cycling, horse-riding and golf available locally.
Unique benefits of the property
It is unusual to a find private, one-family occupancy house with these facilities in this area. Our property is set in almost 3 acres of grounds, very private and quiet, with a spring-water swimming pool. Our agent lives in the next village, speaks fluent English and is very helpful. Baby-sitting can be arranged. Our property is 20 minutes from the motorway, Lucca and Bagni di Lucca; under 5 minutes from the village of Piegaio with a great restaurant, shop, pharmacy, post office and bar; 10 minutes from Diecimo railway station, shops, restaurants, bars and 15 minutes from the town of Borgo a Mozzano with all facilities. There are numerous restaurants within 10-15 minutes drive. The road opposite goes over the mountain to the coast, with superb views and more small villages & restaurants.
For booking and further information
Property Ref IT1510
Contact Name:
Christine Toffolo
(UNITED KINGDOM) +44 07894728753
10.00 to 22.00
Owners Website: Click here
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Property Ref IT1510
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