Vacation rentals in Italy (villas, farms, estates, agriturismo, apartments) |
|
> SlowTrav > Italy > Vacation Rentals > Reviews > Tuscany North Review 1994: La Torre, Apartment
apartments on estate near Lucca, Tuscany North 
WhenSeptember 2005, 1 week LocationLa Torre is located in northwestern Tuscany, in Bagni di Lucca, north of the beautiful town of Lucca. It is in the Garfagnana mountains, close to the mountains of Pistoia, a region quite different from south and central Tuscany. Nearby AmenitiesLa Torre is on the outskirts of the village of Bagni di Lucca, a small village with a couple of coffee shops and restaurants, grocery stores, and a mid-week market. Lucca is 20 km south and Pisa is about 50 km away. A little further away, but still within driving distance, are Florence (85 km) and Siena (120 km) as well as Volterra (90 km) and San Gimignano (90 km). There are also a number of smaller mountain towns surrounding the property. Driving to visit them gives you an opportunity to see the mountains and experience the winding roads as well as see some art and experience the life of a small mountain town in Tuscany. The House/ApartmentThe complex, which dates back to before 1609, was redone in 2003 and houses several apartments in the buildings formerly used as stables and cellars. The property is immersed in greenery and surrounded by olive, chestnut and fruit trees and numerous hiking trails. The apartments are modern, comfortable, cozy, and clean. The complex also has an Internet point, a ping-pong table, a swimming pool, a play area for children and a small restaurant. The apartments also have satellite TV and phones. The restaurant serves an excellent breakfast: homemade preserves and honey, cheese and ham, coffee, juice, coffee and tea. The honey is made on the property by Paolo, the owner. The chestnut honey is a must try. His wife, Laura, makes jams and preserves from the fruit grown on the property. Laura also cooks the dinners served at the restaurant and it is some of the best food we had ever tasted. The menu changes and there are several courses, all of which are extraordinary. She uses many of the ingredients grown on the farm as well as local cheese and prosciutto. GardenThe complex has a beautiful garden and some hiking paths. There are gorgeous views of the surrounding hills. Furnishings/Cleanliness/Living AreasThe apartments are furnished in the traditional Tuscan style and are comfortable and very clean. The apartment we stayed in (1bed/1bath) had a small, but well-designed kitchen with a table, a living room with a couch and TV, and a bedroom with a comfortable bed. Bedrooms/BathroomsThe bedroom of our apartment was spacious, the bed was large and comfortable and the bathroom was very modern and clean. KitchenThe kitchen of our apartment was clean, well designed and equipped with all the necessary appliances: stove, toaster, coffeemaker, fridge. Problems or BonusesWe would highly recommend La Torre not only because it is in a beautiful location, but more than anything because of the warmth and hospitality of the owners and their two adorable labs, and the excellent local products. Do you recommend this vacation rental to others?Yes, we would definitely recommend this property. As a matter of fact, we're going back this fall. Things to do in this areaThe charming town of Lucca is a short drive away although the property is so wonderful that we spent most of our time close by, enjoying the peace and quiet and Laura's wonderful food. This review is the opinion of a Slow Travel member and not of slowtrav.com. |
|
Recommended
| Car Rental | Hotel Booking | Flight Booking | Train Tickets | Books, Maps, Events |
| Europe Cell Phones | Long Distance Cards | Luggage, etc. | Travel Insurance | Classifieds |
|
|
* Advertise on Slow Travel | Post your travel questions on the Slow Travel Forums Copyright © 2000 - 2013 SlowTrav.com, unless noted otherwise. Slow Travel® is a registered trademark. Contact Slow Travel RSS Feeds - Link to Us - Disclaimer - Privacy Policy - Currency Converter - Colophon - Sponsors - Become a Member |
Vacation Rentals - Italy - Trip Planning - Vacation Rentals - Hotels - Restaurants - Instructions - Travel Notes - Postcards - Photos |