Beautiful Three-Story Stone Farmhouse Near Lucca, Tuscany
- Minimum stay:7 nights
- Internet:Yes
- Pets allowed:No
- Wheel chair accessible:No
Casa nella Selva is a three-story stone farmhouse a half hour north of Lucca, in the Serchio River Valley. The house sits on the side of a hill overlooking the town of Borgo a Mozzano, with a panoramic view of vineyard-covered hillsides, clusters of farmhouses and the spectacular Appenine and Apuan Mountains in the distance.
A plant-lined terrace runs the length of the house, with a large stone table for outdoor dining shaded by a rose and grape-leaf pergola. There's also a vine-covered stone shade room for sitting outdoors at midday.
There is a large outdoor pizza oven for ambitious cooks, an inexhaustible supply of rosemary, basil, and sage from spring through the end of October. There are several small flower gardens on the property, a second small terrace for sunbathing, and a hammock in the woods for afternoon naps.
A working chestnut farm into the late 1980s, the house still has its original chestnut beams, and is simply and comfortably furnished with a mix of country pieces, including many original to the house. There are terracotta floors, original or restored, throughout, beautiful wooden windows and shutters, proper reading lamps in all the bedrooms, lots of leftover books to read.
The ground floor includes a fully-equipped kitchen with fireplace, a dining/sitting room that opens directly onto the terrace, a modern-tiled bathroom with large glass stall shower and a washing machine.
On the second floor are three large bedrooms, one of which opens into a separate studio with high speed internet connection (with wireless connection throughout the house and outdoors). Each of the bedrooms has a large double bed (ranging in size from American double to king) and all overlook the valley. There is also a large bathroom on this floor with double sinks, separate tub, and a glass stall shower. The bedrooms are furnished with traditional iron bedsteads, new mattresses, and old wooden chests or armoires. Towels and linens are included in the rent and are ample for six people. ( There is a surcharge of $50 per each additional guest.)
The third floor, formerly the hayloft, has been converted into an open living space, with a large table for sketching or board games, comfortable reading chairs, a day bed/sofa that sleeps one, and a platform bed that sleeps two. Its floor-to-ceiling windows share the same view as the terrace.
The comune of Borgo is the major town between Lucca and the Garfagnana, one of Italy’s most beautiful and popular trekking zones, and is easily reached by car or public transportation (regular trains and buses from Lucca). Borgo’s population is about 8000, of whom roughly half live in town, the remainder in small villages or 'frazione' nearby.
In addition to a supermarket, the town has an abundance of excellent food shops; you can find fresh bread and homemade pasta, extraordinary local pecorino cheeses, wonderful fruits and vegetables, wines from the Lucchese hills and just about everywhere else. There is an outdoor market on Friday mornings, and similar ones can be found nearby on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Saturdays. There are also a large number of modestly-priced restaurants serving excellent regional dishes within a twenty-minute range, and one very good one in town that is open for dinner six days a week, and for lunch and dinner on the weekend.
The Lucca region is one of the last parts of Tuscany to be discovered by tourists, and is anchored by two especially beautiful cities: Lucca itself, enclosed within its perfectly preserved wall, and Barga, whose narrow winding streets lined with ochre, persimmon, or apricot colored houses lead to a spectacular 12th century cathedral of white stone that looks out over the Apuan Alps. In between is in the spa town of Bagni di Lucca, 15 minutes from Borgo. Borgo itself has two clay tennis courts, and a beautiful community recreation center with a 25-meter swimming pool, a separate pool for toddlers snack bar and sunbathing.
The beaches of Viareggio and Forte dei Marmi are within an hour's drive; the towns of Carrara, Pietrasanta, the Cinque Terre and the spas of Montecatini are all easy day trips. One of the great advantages of the house is its easy access to Lucca, Pisa and Florence. It is possible to spend the day sightseeing, museum-going, and shopping, yet be home in time to enjoy dinner on the terrace.
Features include fireplace, telephone, high speed internet and wireless, stereo, iPod dock/radio, washing machine, dishwasher, outdoor oven, and barbecue.
Activities nearby include clay tennis courts, a beautifully landscaped town swimming pool, the beaches of Viareggio, Forte di Marmi, Tirrenia and Cinque Terre, antiquing, garden and villa tours, hiking, and trekking.
Additional pictures available on request.
Keywords: 17th c. farmhouse
Property Type
- 3 story
- Farmhouse
- 2200 sq. ft.
Accommodation Type
- Vacation Rental
Meals
- Guests Provide Their Own Meals
Suitability
- Pets Not Allowed
- Non Smoking Only
Bedrooms
- 3 Bedrooms, Sleeps 8, Beds for 8
- Bedroom 1
- Bedroom 2
- Bedroom 3
- Loft
Bathrooms
- 2.0 Bathrooms
- Bathroom 1
- Bathroom 2
Kitchen & Dining
- Toaster
Amenities
- Iron & Board
- Hair Dryer
- Washing Machine
- Linens Provided
- Living Room seats 10
Other Amenities
- Large outdoor oven for roasting and baking pizza and bread
Entertainment
- Books
- Music Library
- Toys
- Stereo
- CD Player
Communications
- Broadband Access
- Wireless Internet
- Internet
Pool & Spa
Outdoor Features
Location & View
Activities
- Museums
- Paragliding
- Mountain Biking
- Golf
- Skiing
- Fishing
- Cycling
- Tennis
- Swimming
- Hot Air Ballooning
- Rock Climbing
- Parasailing
- Spelunking
- ATM/Bank
- Hospital
- Groceries
- Fitness Center
- Medical Services
- Massage Therapist
- Shopping
- Sight Seeing
- Antiquing
- Health/Beauty Spa
- Restaurants
- Live Theater
- Laundromat
- Hiking
Other Activities
Reviews
Write a review-
Our stay in Borgo!
Our stay in Borgo!
- Guest Marissa
- Date of stay 07/21/12
- Review Submitted 01/10/13
My husband and young daughter stayed here with our family for a one week stay. From the moment we walked in...or should I say down onto the terrace...we were in heaven. It was so peaceful and beautiful. The terrace in the evening was a wonderful way to unwind and then later eat a homemade meal. The whole house was clean and comfortable and well suited for our large group. We had a very memorable visit here. The nearby town was so charming and had everything we needed including a very nice pool! A short, easy drive to Lucca for shopping, lunch/dinner too. The owner was so sweet and helpful leading up to our stay as well as keeping contact while we were there. We came home and told everyone to visit this area and stay at the lovely villa.Recommended for: Families with teenagers, families with young children, girls getaway.
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Total comfort, total beauty
Total comfort, total beauty
- Guest Rose
- Date of stay 05/12/12
- Review Submitted 12/18/12
We were able to settle into this beautiful farmhouse immediately. As travelers that love to visit local vendors and cook for ourselves, the kitchen was our first stop. It passed muster on all counts. The bedrooms all faced the views beyond of the valley; the common spaces inside and outside were all charming and comfortable for gathering throughout the day. The house is lovingly full of local art. And as a location to 'sally forth' by car or train, it was perfect! We took day trips to Cinque Terre, Lucca, Firenze and north into the Garfagnana. And we were so happy to get back 'home' at the end of the day. I have been recommending this choice to many of our friends and family.Recommended for: Romantic getaway, sightseeing, adventure seekers, girls getaway, age 55+.
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The PERFECT setting with Spectacular Views!
The PERFECT setting with Spectacular Views!
- Guest hmbrewd
- Date of stay 09/08/12
- Review Submitted 12/12/12
My fiancée and I took a small group of family to Borgo and used Casa nella Selva as our base from which to explore the area where my grandfather was from, to experience a more relaxing (and more beautiful) Tuscany, oh....and to get married at the house!! From the moment we arrived we knew that the weeks (months, really) we spent researching villas had paid off. We didn't need anything too formal. We were looking for authentic old world architecture and setting, privacy, outdoor living space, and we wanted a killer view. These were among our top priorities. The understated elegance and charming character of this modest yet very comfortable and updated farm house was exactly what we were looking for. The outdoor living space on the terrace was perfect, and the view was absolutely stellar! The house itself is very comfortable and well appointed. However, we spent most of our "house time" relaxing, drinking wine, and dining out on the terrace overlooking the mountains and river below. This is where we had a simple wedding ceremony with just 5 people, yet it was more beautiful, more magical, more real than we could have ever hoped for in some large pretentious venue back in the US with a bunch of distant relatives and acquaintances. It was perfect! Martha was great in helping us arrange everything. She's very quick to respond and thorough in communications. She even helped us line up group transportation for one of the days. The booklet of house instructions provided covered just about everything you could think of! The road to the house does get narrow and somewhat tricky. The first passage is a bit nerve racking, and should be done in the daylight, but by the end of the week the road becomes 2nd nature, and in a strange way, it's part of the charm of the entire experience. Highly recommended. We'll be back!Recommended for: Romantic getaway, sightseeing, families with teenagers, adventure seekers, girls getaway.
Owner response: Hi Jason— what a lovely review. Thanks so much. Will be working on road improvements from now til forever, and hope you get to return someday to experience the thrill of parking closer to the house. All best, Martha
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3 related families
3 related families
- Guest Meg & Carl
- Date of stay 07/11/08
- Review Submitted 11/13/10
We were so fortunate to find, on VRBO, Martha's beautiful, clean, spacious farmhouse in Tuscany when we wanted to show our grandchildren, Sydonia, Olivia, Ida and Alberto Lucchesi the land of the birth of their ancestors (Lucca). We were as well celebrating the marriage of our youngest son. Although the brides parents and we, the grooms parents, slept in cozy places nearby, we took all our meals and family fun at the roomy "main" house. We rode the convenient train to many of the well known cities nearby... and some beautiful not so well known places! It was FABULOUS.... and Martha a wonderful hostess! Summer 2008Recommended for: Sightseeing, adventure seekers, tourists without a car, families with young children, girls getaway, pet owners, age 55+.
Did you find this review helpful? Yes | No Helpful votes: 3/3
Rates
| Dates | Nightly | Wknd Night | Weekend | Weekly | Monthly * | Event |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Base Rate 7 night min stay |
$1540 | $4200 | ||||
|
Discounts: 29 nights or more $150 nightly |
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Additional information about rental rates
Personal check, direct deposit
Additional Fees and Taxes:
none
Before paying contact the owner to confirm payment details.
Call the owner directly to confirm reservation details and pay with an approved method (credit card, check, or bank transfer), to protect your payment up to $1,000.
Location
- Nearest Airport: Pisa at 30 Miles
- Nearest Ferry: Livorno at 40 Miles
- Nearest Train: In town at 200 Metres
- Nearest Motorway: A12 at 15 Miles
- Nearest Beach: Viareggio at 30 Miles
- Nearest Barpub: In town at 300 Metres
- Nearest Ski: Abetone at 35 Miles
- Nearest Golf: Pisa at 30 Miles
- Nearest Restaurant: In town at 3 Kilometres
Owner info
Year Purchased: 1991
About the owner: Martha Fay is a writer based in Brooklyn. She has been coming and going from Italy for 22 years, renting her house regularly since 1998. She is the author of Rome Walks and Village Walks Tuscany (Chronicle Books).
Why the Owner Chose Borgo a Mozzano:
The house is beautiful, private, with a spectacular view, simple comforts and access to a simple, unfussy and friendly Tuscan town. If you want to listen to a lot of Americans discussing the price of a Supertuscan red, you should probably go straight to Chianti. If you want to lose yourself in a small town, wander back streets, eavesdrop on locals as they buy what they need for dinner while catching up with friends, think about coming here.
The Unique Benefits at this Farmhouse:
The intimacy of real Italy, with most of the comforts of home. No TV, but radio, ipod dock and grapes overhead during meals. Beautiful views, fabulous local produce, sausage, cheese, and wine, access to traditional Italian life and culture.
Contact us
- Primary: (347) 350 6504 (New York, USA)
Links to more information:
Photos
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View from terrace
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Front entrance
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Hayloft/Living Room
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Front terrace
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Bedroom (one of three)
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There have been visitors to this page since
the counter was last reset in .
This listing was first published here in 2001.
Date last modified - Wednesday, April 24, 2013
(347) 350 6504 (New York, USA)