This 5 bedroom 4.5 bathroom (one en-suite) villa is ideal for larger groups, with accommodation spanning 3 floors and including 3 living areas (one of which is a suite off the main bedroom), 2 kitchens (one leading to outdoor eating area and another leading to pool area), a large dining area, small balconies leading from some bedrooms and a further balcony off the hall way for reading and relaxing.
There is a large solar heated pool (rare to find) which has the added benefit of a remote controlled cover to keep out those insects, keep in the heat, and most importantly provide safety for family groups. The pool has internal steps for relaxing maybe with a book and a drink!
The fully enclosed and gated garden surrounds the house and comprises of 12M x 6M pool plus sunbathing area, various eating out areas, BBQ, outdoor wood oven, children's swing and wooden play house. There is sufficient space for a large group to relax together, or to provide privacy for those wishing to remain quiet from the group. The house is within easy walking distance of shops, bars, restaurants, river for fishing and playing, and station for easy exploring.
Indoor furnishings are rather particular and personal and won't be to everyone's taste, but sense of space and light is very good and the house is well equipped.
More detailed information:
Ground floor:
Entrance hall
Spacious living area with comfy seating an fireplace, TV, DVD, Stereo, WIFI
Dining room
Main kitchen (dishwasher, oven, hob, microwave, fridge/freezer), leading to terrace with outdoor eating area with wood burning oven for pizzas/roasts/bread.
Lower ground floor:
Second living area with comfy seating and fireplace
Dining area
Second kitchen leading to pool area - oven, hob and fridge, (ideal for preparing drinks and light snacks for pool or for more relaxed dining).
Utility area.
Upper ground floor:
3 double bedrooms - 2 of which have doors leading to small balconies
1 twin bedroom
3 bathrooms – 2 of which are shower rooms, and one of which is a bathroom with tub.
First floor:
Double bedroom suite - large double bedroom
Shower room - en-suite shower room
Living area with comfy seating and fireplace.
This suite is ideal to give a couple privacy from the rest of the group.
Outside:
Flat fully gated and fenced garden
2 areas for dining al fresco
Sunbathing area
BBQ
Pizza oven
Swings and wendy house
Private pool - 12M x 6M with internal steps. Solar heated with remote control pool cover
Parking
Outdoor lighting
A little about location:
Villa Piazza is situated in the midst of the village of Piazza al Serchio which itself has various traditional shops, supermarket, small Tuesday morning market, bars and restaurants, banks, station for easy exploring and beautiful river for trout fishing and playing.
The train station has direct trains to Lucca and Castelnuovo di Garfagnana and it is possible to visit Pisa, Florence and the seaside with one change, and the cinque terre with two.
The villa is well located for exploring the local market town of Castelnuovo which is a 20 minute drive, the gorgeous and popular mediaeval town of Barga which is a 35 minute drive and the stunning walled mediaeval city of Lucca which is say 1 hour and 10 minutes away. Pisa, with its leaning tower is a 90 minute drive, and one can visit Florence in 2 hours. The famous Wind Caves are a 45 minute drive.
Closer to home there are plenty of little historic villages to visit, many of which have local festas in the summer. There are also the lakes of Gramalazzo, Vagli (with its hidden village submerged by the water) and Pontecosi, and some guests love to swim in the river.
The villa is also ideally located for visiting the local Fortress at Verrucole which is a good afternoon out, with stunning views and some interactive activities for the children. Also close by is the Buffardello tree climbing and zip wire park (ideal for both adults and children of all ages with a variety of runs) 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 wonder of a non touristy holiday ......
