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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 beautiful panoramic view of vineyard-covered hillsides, clusters of farmhouses and the spectacular Appenine and Apuan Mountains in the distance.
PRICES NEGOTIABLE THROUGH FALL 2008 BECAUSE OF WEAK DOLLAR; CONTACT OWNER
A plant lined terrace runs the length of the house. There is a large stone table for dining, as well as a vine-covered stone shade room for sitting outdoors at midday.
There is a large outdoor oven (forno) 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 equipped with desk and high speed internet connection. 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 $20 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, and wines from the Lucchese hills. There is an open market every Friday morning, and similar ones can be found in the area 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 weeek, and lunch on Saturday.
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, a 25-meter swimming pool and a separate pool for toddlers within a pretty landscaped setting.
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 a quiet dinner on the terrace.
Features include fireplace, telephone, high speed internet, stereo, washing machine, outdoor oven, and barbecue.
Available activities nearby include clay tennis courts, town swimming pool, beaches, antiquing, garden and villa tours, hiking, and trekking.
Additional pictures available on request. |
