The house was modernized around 1980 and, while retaining a rustic air, has now been updated to a comfortable standard. Open beams give the main rooms charm. Perhaps its greatest asset is the stunning view over the ochre-colored town, especially in the evening, when the slanting light accentuates the contrast with the wooded setting. It's a good place for children and dogs, who have plenty of room to scramble.
For the enterprising visitor, the region has a rich cultural and natural heritage, and almost every village round about is worth exploring. On certain days of the year, the sun shines through the natural arch of the Monte Forato, visible across the valley.
The hamlet of Albiano, ten minutes' walk from the house, boasts a shop for everyday necessities, the Hotel-Restaurant 'La Terrazza', and a café. There is a public swimming pool, 15 minutes from Albiano by a pleasant path, at 'Il Ciocco', a very large conference centre behind and above the village, and another in Barga. Walkers will find many possibilities, including a network of well-preserved mule-tracks.
The ground floor of the house (126 m2 in all), which was once the cantina for storing wine, consists of the spacious living room and the new fitted kitchen, with a washing machine, dishwasher, and a marble worktop. Upstairs, there are three good-sized bedrooms, two on the first floor, and one in the 'torretta', giving space to sleep six people in all. The main bedroom has a double bed; the two beds in the second bedroom can be put together to make a double if required. In addition to the bathroom on the landing, the main, double bedroom has its own shower-room and loo, and a small balcony. Floors are traditional red tile. There is an adjoining barn, once used for livestock and now used for storing bulky items. The house was painted in a traditional Tuscan colour in January 2001 (photos will follow in August.)
Benvenuti a Barga - La Torretta vi aspetta!
marks the location of the property in Media Valle
