Vacation Rental Description
A bright, sunny 13th Century apartment in an ancient Tuscan village on a hill between Villafranca and Bagnone. Beautifully restored with a panoramic terrace, french doors to the living room, a large kitchen/dining room, a stunning bathroom, and a double and a twin bedroom upstairs. Views from every window.
There are magnificent views from the house and the terrace to the Apennines.
Steps lead up from the narrow cobbled street where all village life takes place. The single street leads to the castle at the head of the town. It is possible to drive to the door for unloading, and parking is available in the piazza. The village street always has people milling around and sitting chatting. You need to practise your 'buongiorno' and 'buona sera' for your walk to and from the piazza.
There is also a path up from the main road through the castle.
On an historical note, the village was a traditional resting place on the Via Francigena - the pilgrimage route from Canterbury to Rome, and the Archbishop of Canterbury stayed there in the 11th century.
The village has a small 'shop' that sells bread and milk in the morning, and there are a range of shops, bars and restaurants in Villafranca only 3 km away which also has a large swimming pool complex and a train station with trains to Florence, La Spezia, and Parma. The beautiful old market town of Bagnone, 'the jewel of Lunigiana' is only 5 minutes drive away.
There are many lovely drives and walks into the hills where river pools for bathing may be found.
At Il Tinello you are in the heart of a lively Italian village, but can also sit peacefully on your terrace with a glass of wine looking out across the valley to the hills beyond.
Facilities
Cooking Utensils
Heating
Kitchen
Refrigerator
Sterio
Washer
It is possible to drive to the door for unloading your luggage or shopping, but it is a narrow street and you can't stay there long. You will need to turn round a few metres on at the castle and park in the piazza or just outside the town gates. It is only a couple of minutes' walk to the piazza. Alternatively, you can park down below the castle and come up the footpath and through the keep.
There are steps up to the apartment from the street. Inside, the stairs to the bedrooms are original stone and the steps are quite high. For this reason the property is not recommended for toddlers or anyone infirm.
Activities
Horse Riding
Mountain Biking
Shopping
Snow Boarding
There is an olympic-sized swimmimg pool in Villafranca, just 5 minutes away. Also bathing pools and a waterfall in the river neaby.
Villafranca, a thriving market town is 20 minutes' walk away. It has a selection of shops, banks, bars and restaurants. There is also a mainline railway station with trains to Pisa, Lucca, Parma and Florence.
Down on the coast,just 40 minutes away, is Lerici, a small fishing port with a beach and numerous quai-side restaurants. You can catch the boat to the Cinque Terre - 5 cliffside villages hanging over the sea. Or drive up to Portofino to admire the yachts in the harbour.
You can be in the ski resorts in 40 minutes. In summer the mountains can be appreciated for the lakes and the cool air.
Lucca and Pisa are only an hour away, and Florence is 2 hours. Parma is just over an hour.
You can catch a train from Villafranca - quicker than driving and costing less, after petrol, tolls and parking.