La Fortezza

Originally built in the year 1000 and gradually fortified until the 15th C, this medieval fortress, complete with its walls, ramparts and towers, has recently been beautifully restored into a luxury holiday rental, with 3 impeccably presented suites, and 2 stunning bedrooms, with en-suites, sleeping 10 + 4 guests.

The decor, furniture, soft furnishings and even the lighting have been chosen with immense care to ensure a high quality ambience. The suites are exquisite, each with a bedroom area, living area and luxury bathroom, and eacn of the bedrooms is thoughtfully decorated and has a quality en-suite. The property also boasts a modern kitchen, library, living room and dining room.

The owners have given great thought to their quality offering, using quality bed linen and sublime mattresses (anti-mite, bamboo, hand-made, and highly breathable).

They are also keen to offer eco friendly accommodation wiith latest generation aircon system powered by pellets, electricity from renewable sources, electric golf buggy for brining up luggage, separate waste collection, solar panels for hot water and the mini pool has a salt electrolysis system heated with a heat pump.

Outside there are stunning views over the village and towards the mountains, and the romantic fortress 'garden' conjures images of knights and ladies. In fact your house was stayed in by the knights of the realm! As well as al fresco dining, there are sunny and shady areas, a garden, tower tops and for when you need to cool off with a glass of prosecco, there is a beautifully crafted plunge pool/spa pool with room for 10 guests. This is heated in the cooler months.

All this, and you can also walk to the local station, basic shop, carrefour express, pizzeria, a couple of good restaurants, bank and pharmacy!

Fuller information:

Enter via the fortification gates, and proceed along the steep cobbled style pathway up to the property itself. The owners will take your luggage up for you in an electric buggy.

The entrance to the fortress is via a large stone paved terrace which is also your al fresco dining area.

Ground floor:

• Entrance into a spacious hallway with stairs leading both up and down.
• Cloakroom with WC, basin and bidet.
• Kitchen - reached from the hallway via an antique wooden door. Stunning modern kitchen complete with oven, induction hob, fridge/freezer, microwave, dishwasher and coffee machine.
• Dining room - reached from the kitchen but also from hallway, there is a dining room with fireplace. Small balcony with a beautiful view. 

From the hall you also have access to: 

• Bedroom one - Alfred:   

            Dual aspect large double bedroom that can also be a twin on request.
            En-suite bathroom with shower and bidet.
            Smart TV.

• Suite one - Lionel:

            Entrance into a living area with smart tv and sofa bed.
            Spacious double bedroom, dual aspect.
            En-suite shower room with WC, large double shower and basin 

 First floor:

Corridor with entrance to:

• Suite two - Nicholas:

            Entrance to a living area with sofa bed and table with chairs.
            Large double bedroom.
            Shower room with large double shower, bidet, WC and basin.
            NB - no doors between bedroom and sofabed area.

• Suite three - Hercules:

            Enter into living area with sofa bed.
            Wooden table with chairs, smart tv.
            Doors to large dual aspect double bedroom
            En-suite shower room with shower, bidet, WC and basin.

• Bedroom two - Ariosto:

            Double bedroom with dual aspect.
            Fireplace, smart tv.
            Ensuite bathroom with large double shower and bidet.

Lower ground floor:

From the hall on the ground floor there are stairs leading down to the lower ground floor.

• Halfway down the stairs there is a door leading out to a small balcony with access to garden and jacuzzi area.
• Downstairs there is an area with a piano, sofa and window seat.
• Library/living area with comfy seating.
• Second living area with large smart tv and comfy seating.

Other facilities - air conditioning; safes and shutters in all bedrooms. WIFI.

Outside:

• Traditional style terrace with dining al fresco.
• Terraced garden with Jacuzzi style 'pool' easily seating 10 guests.
• Decking with sunbeds
• Sunny and shaded areas, with lots of nooks and crannies to explore, and various herbs to pick.
• Stunning views over the mountains

Services on request (payable):

• Additional cleaning.
• Chef service and  home restaurant service.
• Bread delivery.
• Bar service - aperitivi with nibbles
• Registered for small weddings.

 NB - House heating is included in the price until Mid May and from Mid September onwards. Heating use outside of this time is payable locally.

The Jacuzzi /plunge pool is heated in April and May and from Mid September onwards - free of charge. For other months the water is unheated and used to cool off!

UNSUITABLE for the elderly or infirm and for children under the age of 8. Do note there are railings at the walls, but children should be supervised at all times.

A little about the area:

Ideally situated on a hill up above the medieval village. The village has a couple of bars, 2 pizzerias, a couple of restaurants, and a supermarket, as well as a train station, a bank, pharmacy, basic shop  All these facilities are within a 1 and 10 minute walk! You can try winetasting a 10 minute walk away too. 

• The location is just over a 15 minute drive north of the market town of Castelnuovo di Garfagnana with its famous Thursday morning market, bars & restaurants, old castle walls and the river Serchio.
• There are various good restaurants providing fresh local home cooked traditional food within a short drive, as well as local one-off shops, delicatessens, gelaterias and supermarkets.
• For relaxing afternoons out, there are lots of pretty villages to explore in the immediately locality, one of which is fully walled commanding outstanding views over the Apuane mountains. Many of these villages have festas in the summer with food, drink and dancing.
• Situated only a short drive from the National Park of Orrecchiella, the location is ideal for walking, hiking, horse-riding, mountain biking and picnicking, surrounded by views of the seemingly endless mountains, and local chestnut woodland. 
• For those who enjoy the outdoor life there is also a local tree climbing/zip wiring park just under a 10 minute drive away, with courses adapted for all age groups, from the very young to adults.
• There are local adventure parks where one can try water canyoning, rock climbing, swimming in rock pools, canoeing etc and there is the Grotta del Vento, a massive cave system in the mountains which is a good day out.
• There is an ancient fortress to visit less 10 minutes away, with jaw dropping views, and interactive displays for children including a chance to try a little archery.
• The lake of Vagli, with its submerged village is worth a visit and there is a zip wire across the lake - 20 minute drive.
• Younger guests may enjoy the opportunity to walk with Llamas less than a 10 minute drive away.
• The beautiful mediaeval town of Barga with its cobbled streets, great architecture, cathedral and great views is only a 30-minute drive. Barga is famous for its art and music, and here one can often enjoy free music, evening markets, dancing, and sometimes even impromptu entertainment from Paolo Nutini! Barga has lots of great restaurants.
• Lucca, the fully walled Mediaeval City and the Capital of the Region is just over an hour away, and one can spend the day cycling or meandering along its ample walls; people watching in both the grand and tiny piazzas with prosecco, coffee or ice cream; designer shopping; climbing towers, visiting some of its 99 churches or just taking in the atmosphere. If you like opera, there is a recital every evening before dinner in a unique church setting.
• The traditional Tuscan sites of Pisa and Florence are do-able in a day trip as are the beaches of Forte dei Marmi or Viareggio. Many guests also visit the Cinque Terre...
• The small Golf Course of Garfagnana is less than a 15 min drive.
• Florence 1 hr 45 mins