Vianova is a wonderful mountain style villetta/chalet set in the Apuane Alps, with beautiful views and stunning countryside abounding.
This location is ideal for enjoying the warmth of sun, and cooling off in the solar heated pool, but with a pleasant dry mountain heat. Due to the altitude of 900M sleeping at night is a dream... Perfect for keen cyclists due to the number of cyling trails around, and fantastic for hikers too, as well as for those just wanting to enjoy the mountain ambience.
Set high in the hills with a cluster of similar privately owned and little used properties one may feel there is no civilisation, but the property is within walking distance of 2 restaurants (one less than 1 minute away on foot and another under 20 mins), and others are accessible by car. The village of Careggine which has a further couple of restaurants, small supermarket, bars, and other shops is 4.5km away. So, a mountain retreat, but with facilities within easy reach!
This lovingly cared for property romantic part stone villetta is set over 3 floors, and has 3 bedrooms (2 doubles and a double with extra single bed), 2 shower rooms, a well equipped kitchen/breakfast room, a living/diner and its own pool. There is also a lovely little courtyard for dining and relaxing al fresco, taking in that fresh mountain area.
Fuller details:
Enter into house direct into Living/Diner, with fireplace, TV, DVD, WIFI
Leading to Kitchen/Diner with oven, hob, microwave, dishwasher, fridge/freezer, washing machine, kettle and toaster
Stairs to 1st floor – double bedroom & shower room - WC, bidet and shower
Stairs to 2nd floor – Bedroom with double and single bed in roof space
Stairs from living room down to lower ground floor – double room & wet room style shower room with WC
Outside:
Courtyard area for dining and relaxing Al Fresco
BBQ
Own solar heated pool
3 bicycles
A Little About the Area:
Situated high in the Apuane mountains within a small cluster of similar properties, this mountain retreat is an ideal location for families or couples looking for stunning countryside, hiking, cycling or just relaxing in the mountain air. A protected area, and a place of outstanding Natural Beauty the area forms the Parco Alpi Apuane, famous for its marble mountians.
At 900M above sea level the house is located in a sunny position making the most of the summer, yet with the benefit of that dryer mountain air and lovely cool evenings for sleeping.
Stunning views and what feels like never ending countryside surrounds this beautiful location.
Whilst at the end of the mountain road, there are facilities to hand, with two restaurants within walking distance, and a couple of others in the village 4.5km away, where you will also find shops (including a small supermarket) and bars, and the most stunning views of the area. Carregine is the oldest village in the region, with its parish church founded around 700 AD! Exquisite works are conserved inside, including the stone altars and a statue of Saint Anthony from 1563, attributed to Vincenzo Civitali. It is the birthplace of Italian football and World Cup winner player Marco Tardelli and of Adriano Tardelli, one of the heroes of the Italian resistance movement . Carregine is also an area for local ski-ing in the Winter months as well as winter running.
Also within a 15 minute drive is a lovely restaurant overlooking the lake of Isola Santa - a perfect view and a great way of trying a real Italian style Sunday lunch - don t eat breakfast and be willing to stay a while - there is no menu and the lunch just keeps on coming! Pause before or after lunch to walk down to the lake and appreciate its peaceful beauty.
One can fish at Isola Santa, and also at the local lake of Vagli which hides a sunken village.....
For days out:
Whilst in the depths of the countryside, one can visit:
Local market town of Castelnuovo - 20 mins
Barga - gorgeous and popular mediaeval town - 40 mins
Lucca - stunning walled mediaeval city of Lucca which is say 1 hour and 20 minutes away.
Pisa, with its leaning tower is a 1 hr 40 minute drive
Florence 2.25 hours.
The famous Wind Caves are a 1 hour drive
Closer to home there are plenty of little historic villages to visit, many of which have local festas in the summer. Why not visit the Fortress at Verrucole which is a good afternoon out, with stunning views and some interactive activities for the children.
Also the Buffardello tree climbing and zip wire park (ideal for both adults and children of all ages with a variety of runs) is a great day, where one can take a picnic and spend the entire day in the welcome shade of the forest.
The real beauty of this area is the dramatic mountain scenery, and the hundreds of hilltop villages to explore, endless picnicking opportunities, and the pure peace of a non touristy holiday ......
CAR NECESSARY
