Self Catering Family Holiday Home in Tuscany, Lunigiana, Italy
Property Summary (IT01)
A 2 bedroom self catering family holidy home set deep in the ancient territory of Lunigiana it is Tuscany before the huge influx of tourists. Restaurants are superb serving local produce from the mountains and the nearby Mediterranean sea at very reasonable prices. Beaches are shallow and safe, perfect for kids. You can take the ferry to the UNESCO coast of the Cinque Terre or take to the mountains for summer hiking, autumn mushroom hunting and winter skiing. The beautiful cities of Lucca, Parma and Florence are an easy drive or train journey or you can soak up the style of Portofino and shop in the designer boutiques of Forte Dei Marmi.
This Tuscany Holiday Home is a beautifully restored ancient cantina, cosy in winter, and cool in summer. It has two beautifully appointed double bedrooms, both en-suite. One has an outstanding view over the chestnut swaithed foothills of the Apuan Alps. A fully equipped kitchen includes dishwasher and microwave, while the lounge area also has those spectacular views down the valley towards the Magra river. The lounge has a comfortable sofa bed and sony HD tv with DVD player.
Breakfast on the terrace in the cool shade watching the butterflies and listening to the crickets. Evening in the warm sun watching the shadows lengthen. Then the fire flies appear below in the garden flitting from the bushes to the fruit trees. As it gets darker the sky lights up with a million stars so bright without fluorescent lights and you can hear the owls over the valley and even the rustling in the bushes of the wild deer or maybe even the chingale wild boar so prized by the locals. Far away towards Aulla just a few lights twinkle in tiny villages like ours and above licciana is the faint orange glow of the cemetary...... this is Lunigiana...
You exit the house onto the terrace through either the front bedroom or the living area. Here there is enough space to sit and enjoy breakfast taking in the tranquillity of the garden below with endless chestnut covered hills across the valley. Just a few steps take you down to the bbq area and garden. Here, despite being in the village you have complete privacy to enjoy both levels of the large garden.
The nearest shops are just a few minutes drive to either Comano or Licciana Nardi. Both have small supermarkets and a selection of cafes, bakeries and delicatessens. Just a little farther is Monti where there is a fishmonger. Local restaurants are just a few minutes drive... you will be spoilt for choice and without having to pay normal Tuscany prices. There are spectacular walks directly from Baccana up into the Apuan Alps and on to other small villages includuing Bastia with its impressive castle.
Hill walking - directly from Casa D'alloro there are endless spectacular marked hill walks in the Apuan Alps. Wild boar roam the mountains and all the locals search for fungi the day after rain.
Water Parks -There are two water parks within easy reach, one at Villafranca in Lunigiana and one close to Fivizziano.
Karting - there is an outdoor kart track between Lerici and Boco di Magra and a world championship track at Parma just 1 hour drive.
Opera - just one hour from Torre di Lago to experience Puccini where it was written. Book early in the season to ensure you get a seat.
Shopping - Forti di Marmi is just down the autostrada where you can enjoy the passegata with the locals browsing Tods, Prada, Hogan, Dolce e Gabbana before stopping for your appertivo....it has to be a Prosecco......
Adventure park - parco 100 aventure is the summer activity at the Prato Spilla ski resort. A challenging adventure set high in the chestnut trees caters for 6 to 76 year olds.....
Beach Lerici/San Terenzo - 35 mins - beautiful typical seaside resort that hasn't changed much over the years due to strict planning regulations. Dominated by its castle, it also has a small fish market right on the harbour. There is a small public beach that is shallow and safe for kids. Great ice cream parlours and restaurants. You can also get the ferry to Portovenere across the bay.
This Tuscany Holiday Home is located within easy reach of 5 airports, Pisa, Parma, Genoa, Bologna and Milan. Budget airlines including Jet 2, Ryanair and Easyjet all fly to these as well as Aer Lingus, BA, Alitalia, etc. We find that Pisa is the easiest drive but the airport can be very busy at peak periods with long waits at the car rental desks. Milan Bergamo is a modern well run airport and just over 2 hours from Casa D'alloro as is Bologna. When you arrive we are only around 12 miles from the autostrada junction at Aulla.
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