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Dressed in classic Lucchese warm colors of red and siena, Il Castellino delivers a really unique stay in the Lucca Tuscany countryside. Il Castellino is a Tuscan farmhouse rental near Lucca with a commanding view of the valley below and mountains beyond. Il Castellino served in the middle ages as a stop for pilgrims traveling between Pisa and Firenze on a religious pilgrimage. In the day when sturdy folk traveled by foot and cart this was a place to rest, eat and drink. It has the feeling of those old times with its low timber ceilings, small comfortable rooms and a Stratford-Upon-Avon kind of ambience. Today it is still the only house on the low hill side and the owner, a man with a friendly smile and eye for visual (those Italians!) is an art and antique dealer, so the place is done with great style, renovations, beautiful gardens and comfortable home feeling while surrounded by antiquity.
Old thick walls support these enormous oak beams, chiseled stone and terra cotta roof and floors mix with the collection of antiques to produce an atmosphere one would not soon forget. Particularly fabulous old kitchen and really nice pergola for al fresco dining. All materials used are local - marble from Carrara, tiles from old Tuscan fire houses, granite, wood...it is all affacinate (charming).
NOTE TO SELF - large vans, small buses can not make it up the narrow gravel drive, the last 100 feet are a doozy. Minivans and cars are okay. It is a dirt road in part.
Outstanding Points: Wonderful history and fabulous interiors. Great views too. REALLY good value.
Perfect for: Couples or small family.
The Details:
Ground Floor at Garden Entrance: Double bedroom and full bath with shower in a laundry room with washing machine.
Ground Floor at Back Entrance: Living room, kitchen/dining room, full bathroom with shower. The kitchen has all the stuff you need for cooking and eating like an Italian.
First Floor: 1 master double bedroom with a fireplace, 1 smaller double bedroom and 1 twin bedroom. There is also another full bath with shower and another bathroom with WC.
Services, Features, Amenities:
Central Heating
Fireplace,
Al Fresco Dining,
Washing Machine,
Dishwasher,
Grill / BBQ,
Pool (0 x 5.5 meters and shared occasionally with the owner),
Pizza Wood Oven,
Refridgerator,
Satellite TV,
WiFi connection,
Outdoor Furniture,
Detached,
Oven
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Although we are biased on such matters and may be preaching to the choir, Lucca is arguably the best city in Tuscany. It is also the closest to most of our Lucca based rentals. There are loads of reasons this is a great place to visit (olive oil for example, lack of tourists another). To the benefit of you and the proud locals, Lucca has completely retained the original thick walls around the centro storico. As the wide walls lost their military importance, abruptly ended with the conquering Bonaparte in 1805, no match for his modern might, they became as they are today: a pedestrian only park that rings the city entirely providing a wonderful view of the countryside and city below. Lucca is a perfect place to spend a day, or when you have a little extra time between other touring, you can easily slug it in and never tire of its streets, alleys, sights and shops. It is a perfect place to walk around, the walls not withstanding (in fact for the walls we suggest renting a bike and seeing the city that way - on the walls and off). We fondly call it "Florence without the scooters, people or museums." But still enough great restaurants, piazze, cafes, gelati and upscale shopping to attract the discerning folk. Here is a quick guide to our favorite restaurants (also found in more detail on our recommended restaurants in Lucca page):
Da Giulio, on via Conce Piazza San Donato
La Buca, on via della Cervia
Osteria Baralla, on via Anfiteatro
Antico Cafe, on Piazzale Vittorio Emanuele
Touring Ideas:
The viilage of Montuolo (2 km) with a post office, butcher, grocer and has a really good restaurant Trattoria Miati
Lucca 5 km
Carrara 40 km
Florence 60 km
Viareggio 20 km
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