Tuscany Medieval village hill-house

4 story 11-room house (2-adjoining apartments, internal staircase): 4 bedrooms (3 Q, 2S), 2 shower, 2 lounge, 2 kitchen, 1 dining. Piazza dining. Max. 8 self catered guests. At additional cost and a separate arrangement, Max. 4 fully- catered guests in 3 b'rooms + 1 bathroom for all meals and guided walking (Oct, Nov, Feb, March). This offer incurs additional cost to accommodation fee and is negotiated on a individually tailored basis. The house can be rented as two separate apts. The space In the Tuscan hills, tranquil but not isolated and off the beaten path, Casa Catalina is an ancient, but luxuriously equipped house where the background hums of modern civilization are absent, except the hourly peel of the pre-renaissance village bells. It is the perfect place to escape the 21st century. Meet down-to-earth Italians for the community pizza night on Saturdays, at the Circola (village hall) and enjoy local delicacies, wine and dancing. Enjoy popping down to Pescia and Essalunga to stock up on gorgeous vegetables, wine and antipasta. It is so easy to take day trips to Florence, Lucca, Modena, Ferrara, Padua, Collodi, Forte dei Marme, Viareggio and Bolonga. Otherwise, have an overnight to Venice. Or, just enjoy the walks through the picturesque chestnut forests or nearby medieval villages. The charming one-bedroom apartment has a bathroom, bedroom and lounge room with a kitchen and a cantina and laundry on the ground floor with access to Piazza Giusti for outdoor summer-dining and views to 2 hill-top villages, chestnut forests and the Pescia River. The upstairs apartment has three bedrooms, bathroom, kitchen, lounge and dining room. The 600cm medieval stone walls keep the apartment cool in summer and is warmed in winter with a timber pellet heater (downstairs) and fireplaces and timber slow combustion heaters (upstairs). Tuscan hilltop villages are not wheel chair accessible or suitable for elderly or disabled guests. Cars can be unpacked approx 25 m from the front door; however, cars must be parked in the village car park nearby. The apartment is then accessed from a stone staircase and an ancient narrow street. 1) Holidays are self catered and guests are met by Morana (Italian speaking only) and meeting point provided on booking. All arrangements for arrival are made with Kathleen, your host and arrangements with Morena can be made through Kathleen if any language difficulties. 2)With prior notice and extra cost (negotiated in line with activities), the hosts’ offer in the upstairs apartment for gourmet meals; local wines and guided walking tours to discover the local villages and ancient walking trails through the chestnut forests (2-4 guests). Walking trips are tailored to guests’ wishes and endurance. In poor weather, hosts offer to take guests or assist guests to visit Lucca, Florence, Bolonga, Pisa, Viareggio, Poretta, Montacatini Terme and Bagni de Luca. Wine-tasting tours to Monte Carlo can be arranged. Lanciole is an ancient village on the rim of the Svizzeria Pescatina (Swiss Pescia), in the Valleriana area, north of Pescia (Pistoia province) as named by the Swiss historian and economist Jean Charles Léonard Simonde de Sismondi. As an avid traveller, he considered the alpine landscapes of his home and this part of Tuscany to be similar. It is advised that all guests have a car (i.e. rental Pisa airport), as public transport to the village is limited. Driving in Italy is now much easier with satellite navigation, either in the car or with a smart phone. However, through prior arrangement, the hosts can offer transport for two guests for their entire stay, with pick-up and drop off at Pisa Airport or Pescia train station. Please note the house itself is still not on Google maps, but is not far from via Principale. Hosts will provide further information about walking, sightseeing and menu options before bookings are finalised. Prices will be calculated on the number of options chosen by guests. However, once prices are agreed, schedules for fully catered holidays can remain flexible to suit the daily weather and guests’ wishes. Hosts can also take guests for 2-3 day walking and sight-seeing tours to the Island of Elba (additional costs to Lanciole booking). Guest access Guests can book the entire house or individual apartments, by arrangement with hosts. Other things to note It snows occasionally in Tuscany, so either a 4-wheel drive, chains or winter tires maybe needed to leave the hill before roads are ploughed. Rubbish bins are about 100 metres before Morana’s house. You must empty your own rubbish, especially on departure. Registration Details IT047024C2OCUHFX4T