Casina Piazza is a charming detached riverside cottage. The property has been lovingly renovated and offers privacy and romance - one can see the river from the large bedroom windows, and listen to the water gurgling by whilst lying in bed.....The river is dammed to allow refreshing dips and there is a small private pool in the garden, with dining al fresco provided by the covered loggia... The pool is ideal for relaxing and cooling off, and if you want serious swimming why not walk into the village and use their large outdoor pool (you will often be the only ones there first thing, as the locals don't tend to use it until the afternoon!).
The woodland location is beautifully peaceful, yet the cottage is within walking distance of all the facilities of the village - a rare find! Facilities in the village include bakers, greengrocer, pattiserie, rosticceria, butchers, traditional shops and supermarket. There a couple of restaurants and some bars too, and a train station for easy exploring. On Tuesday morning this small village comes alive when the little market arrives, providing opportunities to buy local produce, great cheese, and lovely roasted chickens, as well as the usual market fayre of clothing, shoes and kitchen equipment.
Ideal for romantic breaks, honeymoons or for small families, this is a great opportunity to stay in a private property at a competitive price.
Enter house into living/dining room with TV/DVD, easy chairs, dining furniture and fireplace.
Through to simple Tuscan style kitchen, with counter top oven, hob, fridge/freezer.
Also on this floor is a modern shower room.
Up the wooden stairs to two character bedrooms, one double and one twin, both of which have large Juliet style balconies, overlooking the garden with the river beyond. One can hear the sounds of the river while relaxing here.
There are beamed ceilings, and traditional flooring and furniture here.
Outside:
Garden with small hexagonal private pool - ideal for relaxing with a glass of wine or just general cooling off!
Access to river.
Covered loggia for dining al fresco
BBQ.
TOURIST TAX - Do note that there is a local stay tax applicable at €1 per person per night, up to a maximum of 5 nights. This does not apply to children under 14.
A little about the area:
Casina Piazza 500m from the centre 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.
The train station has direct trains to Lucca, Pisa and Castelnuovo di Garfagnana, and it is possible to visit Florence and the seaside with one change, and the Cinque Terre with two.
Whilst in the countryside, the house 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. Casina Piazza 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 pure peace of a non touristy holiday ......
