Separate herb and vegetable gardens as well as a fruit orchard are maintained by a local resident and produce from these can be used as available. Wild flowers abound in the open spaces surrounding the house and birds are a constant delight to watch and hear.
The house is simple and comfortably furnished. Terracotta tiled floors and white stucco walls offset the exposed beams made from local chestnut trees. A fireplace provides coziness throughout the year. There are books to read, a television/VCR and satellite dish, a stereo Cd's, and Internet access.
The ground floor consists of a fully-equipped kitchen, with dishwasher and microwave, a dining/sitting room that opens directly onto the terrace and a modern-tiled bathroom with a washing machine.
On the second floor are three double bedrooms, a bathroom and study. Towels and linens are included in the rent and are ample for eight people.
Valdottavo is a small village six minutes south of Borgo a Mozzano, gateway to the Garfagnana and undiscovered Northern Tuscany. Valdottavo has excellent food shops where you can find fresh bread and homemade pasta, extraordinary local pecorino cheeses, wonderful fruits and vegetables, and local wine: red from the Lucchese hills, and a delectable white from nearby Montecarlo. Two large and well-stocked supermarkets are within a short drive. There are many good restaurants nearby that serve the renowned cuisine of northern Tuscany.
The Lucca region is one of the last parts of Tuscany to be discovered by tourists. Its treasures include the walled city of Lucca with its museums and monthly antique market, 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 distant Appenines.
In between, in the spa town of Bagni di Lucca just fifteen minutes from Valdottavo, are beautiful, uncrowded clay tennis courts, a great public pool with bar/restaurant and, two mornings a week, an open air market.
Day trips from the house can include hikes along the marked trails of the Garfagnana; visits to the 18th century villas that surround Lucca; the beaches of Viareggio or Forte dei Marmi, an hour away; Pisa, 40 minutes and Florence, 1 hour 15 minutes. The towns of the Cinque Terre are an easy day trip. Parma is a two and a half hour drive. 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.
Other Activities:
Shopping, Downhill Skiing
