Montecarlo - central for Tuscan adventures!:
MONTECARLO - ONLY 4 MIN FROM BORGO LE VIGNE, is a small gem! - For its Castle, Swish Restaurants, start of the drive around the special tourist Strado del Vino - wine trail - (details at property); olive groves, vineyards and views. Even a spizzeria in Montecarlo has a panoramic view (you can see the hamlet of Borgo le Vigne from the terrace). Lots of photos of Montecarlo available. ITALIAN GROCERS & EXCELLENT SUPERMARKETS ONLY 5 MINUTES.
Visit LUCCA for interesting sightseeing, markets & shops within a preserved sixteenth century fortress city - ONLY 15 MINUTES' DRIVE. One of the most elegant cities in Tuscany, it has a twice weekly market - antiques market on the 3rd Saturday/Sunday every month. It is possible to hire bicycles to ride around its famous walls, from where the old town can be viewed inside, with the Art Deco buildings and new town to be seen on the outside. Lucca is mainly for pedestrians. Again, lots of photos available to view of Lucca. See why most visitors return.
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FLORENCE - JUST 40/45 MINUTES' DRIVE OR TAKE NEARBY TRAINS. The historical centre is a 6min walk from the station. Visit the main piazza with the Duomo and Baptistery - and the Galleries; cross the Ponte Vecchio and walk along the Arno. There are excellent markets and shops for fine leather and souvenirs. The restaurants and cafe/bars are excellent. Visit nearby FIESOLE by bus in the heat of summer. Especially good to visit in spring & summer.
Other places to visit include: the medieval town of SAN GIMIGNANO (everyone loves it); MONTECATINI TERME (elegant: good shops - take a furnicular railway to MONTECATINI ALTO for lunch & views; BAGNI DI LUCCA, BARGA, VINCI (Leonardo's house/museum); the little town PRATO.
Visit SIENA - for its famous piazza & Palio horse racing - just over 1hr. The drive is interesting. All Tuscany (inc 'CHIANTISHIRE' and the famous HILLTOWNS) can be visited from Montecarlo. With an early start visit UMBRIA too. It is interesting to compare the two regions.
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THE COAST - The famous resorts of VIAREGGIO (just 40 minutes from Montecarlo) and the more select FORTE DEI MARMI, are just to the west of Lucca - sandy beaches, sailing, sunbathing, shopping and pleasant walking. There are other interesting resorts just to the north for a lovely day trip inc CINQUE TERRE. Viareggio has a famous carnival in February.
The area around Montecarlo is prized and Casa Fiore an excellent base - Beautiful in spring, Glorious in summer (cooling ceiling fans and shuttered windows), Bright & warm days in autumn, Cosy in winter (central heating and warm blankets, if needed). Just come . . . .
Note the lower prices for out of season booking and stay a week or three! LUCCA is near. FLORENCE an easy drive and its treasures can be seen without the crowds. Or unwind - reading, walking, driving around and eating!
- If your preferred holiday dates are already booked for 2009 at Casa Fiore - view our traditional property CASA LUCIA (see Holiday-Rentals Ref No.16914).
Ski:
(Skiing Abetone 1hr north of Lucca). ***FOR 2008 DAY & HALF DAY TRIPS *** Claudia (and Manuela) are excellent housekeepers and also offer DAY TRIPS and HALF DAY TRIPS eg Visiting the Cinque Terre; trekking in Garfagnana; sailing Viareggio; tour around a wine road to vineyards/olive groves; a relaxing day at a natural mineral water spa - or a Puccini Opera in Torre del Lago July/August.***NEWS FROM MONTECARLO ***More restaurants opened - in the main piazza at Montecarlo a welcome addition with delicious food - another two just 4 mins away - excellent pizzas in one! One tired bar closed and replaced by a better one. Details at Casa Fiore. Chocolate shop discovery - ask!
**GUEST BOOK**a delightful holiday at Casa Fiore probably the most relaxing we have ever had. . . house beautifully furnished . . . view was stunning, as if an artist had painted a Tuscan view, loved Montecarlo (Family who stayed at Casa Lucia 2005&2006). It really is a lovely, special place (Family 2006&2007&2008!)
Golf:
2009 news from Casa Fiore:
Norwegian Guests 'We enjoyed our stay. The house was comfortable'.
2008: Danish guests: 'Thank you very much for a great stay, had 3 great weeks and were very happy that we chose your house' April. 'We thought Montecarlo was charming and the views from the village & the house were stunning. Thanks for everything'. US guests April 'Your home in Tuscany is lovely & beautifully furnished & the views are breathtaking, birds singing, quality of light . . a profound and delightful surprise'. April guests from Ireland said they enjoyed their stay and would not hesitate to recommend the place to their friends - the view alone worth the admission price! 'Many thanks for the chance to stay in your lovely house. We were very impressed how spacious and comfortable it was, both inside and out, and we had a great holiday . . . in fact we'd have been quite happy to stay at Casa Fiore indefinitely! Thanks for all your help, useful house book and information about possible visits etc. It really was the most relaxing holiday and we'd do it all again tomorrow if we could'. August 2008. 'Most enjoyable holiday. The 2 different apartments (they stayed a week each at Casa Fiore and Casa Lucia) worked well as we were able to explore the southern areas first (visiting a new town every day!) and then the 2nd week relaxed a bit more aorund the pool, enjoyed pizzas in Montecarlo, visited La Grotta caves, cycled the walls of Lucca and shopped'. Family August 2008.
Other Activities:
Half/day trips available from Casa Fiore. Walks, drives, restaurants, sightseeing!
