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In the heart of the Tuscan countryside, tranquil but not isolated, but well off the beaten tourist paths Casa Catalina is a medieval 4 level attached stone house with two bathrooms and four bedrooms ideal for family reunions (providing two self contained areas in the one house). Prices start at €365 per week. |
Casa Catalina is also available as two separate apartments the older upstairs apartment having three bedrooms and the brand new downstairs apartment having one bedroom. You are welcome to rent any of the three possibilities.Both bathrooms are fitted with a shower, toilet, bidet and basin and both apartments have new washing machines. The prices quoted are for each apartment as a separate accommodation but please contact us for the rate for the whole house as it is certainly not double the apartment rate. |
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The top floor of the house has three double bedrooms and a bathroom with a separate lounge, dining room and kitchen on the third
level. This level has an access to the street. On the second level and down an ancient stone staircase to the other apartment is a
bathroom bedroom and lounge room with a further kitchen and a cantina on the ground floor providing access to the almost private
Piazza Giusti for outdoor summer dining.
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| We provide for your convenience (stored in the cantina which also has access to the Piazza)
a table, chairs and small grill for the enjoyment of the Piazza. With the kitchen only a few convenient steps from the Piazza you can
enjoy twilight dining in the Piazza and its magnificent views in comfort. The Piazza is linked to the village street system so that
there is a separate entrance to the downstairs apartment. |
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Forming part of the ancient walls of the medieval village of Lanciole all levels of this ancient house, located at the head waters of the
Pescia River, have magnificent views down the Pescia River valley from most rooms. Parking is nearby for both apartments so that
cars can be unloaded but we do ask that after unloading or loading you move your car so that others in the village can gain vehicle
access. |
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Comfortably sleeping six in its three large double bedrooms the larger apartment also has easy access to the Piazza. At some 600
metres above sea level Lanciole is protected in the warmer months from the summer heat by its mountain setting and breezes.
Further the almost metre thick stone walls provide cool comfortable surroundings within the house. |
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In the cooler months of November
to February the two stuffas (wood is provided) assisted by kerosene heaters make the house cosy with the thick walls keeping in the
heat. We do ask on an honour system that you replace any kerosene used. |
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With expansive views down the valley the house is in easy driving distance of the Pescia train and hence Florence, Lucca, Pistoia,
Prato and Viareggio are all within an hours travel. Going further afield for a days drive or train trip are many of the highlights of a
Tuscan holiday such as San Giminano, Montepulciano, the Cinque Terra and many areas where ancient Etruscan or Roman ruins are
situated. In winter the ski slopes of Abetone are approximately 40 minutes away. Satellite TV is provided and there are four English
speaking news channels to keep you up to date. |
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Although Lanciole is set in chestnut forests scattered with conifers providing a beautiful green backdrop to your holiday activities you
may wish to explore the beauty of this natural wilderness area scattered as it is with ancient medieval stone villages. For example
driving north for about 10 minutes from Lanciole toward Prunetta is the area of Machia Antonini where there is a restaurant and old
Church surrounded by many acres on beautiful forest containing many delightful walks picnic areas and barbecues. |
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Villages you might like to visit and within easy driving distance are Pontito and Crespole which are also pleasant and picturesque
walks, Stiappa, Castlevecchia, Sorana and many others (7 others in fact). They are all left over from the 12th to the 16th
centuries. Should you desire to stay in our village house we will provide you with further notes and information.
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The lower apartment is joined to the upper apartment by an internal stairway. This is locked shut if you only require one or the other of the apartments. |
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What's included in the price at Casa Catalina |
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The following items are included in the price:- Bed linen for all beds. If you stay longer than a week this will be replaced at the end of the first week. Towels for 8 guests; Tea towels for use in the kitchen. Additional linen and towels are available for a second week but if staying for two weeks or more we may ask you to wash to linen during your stay. This will particularly be the case where there is a short turn around with the next guests. Electricity. Gas for cooking. Wood for the fire places (Stuffas) when required (early Spring / late Autumn / Winter). The following items are not included in the price:- Transport to and from Casa Catalina. Central heating (there is none) and Kerosene for Kerosene heaters should it be necessary. You will find kerosene at the house but if you use it we ask on an honour system that you replace the bottles used alternatively leave 40 Euro per bottle with Morena our manager when departing. |
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Below is an interactive map showing the location of Casa Catalina. Use the controls on the left of the map and/or your mouse wheel to zoom in and out and see other locations. Interactive Map |
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Who we are at Casa Catalina.
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Contact us at Casa Catalina
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Casa Catalina address is: Our postal address for correspondence is: |
Our email address is (feel free to send us a mail - we'd love to hear from you): Our phone number is: Our fax number is: |
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We are Richard and Kathleen Lilley from Warwick and Murwillumbah respectively in Australia and we now live in Brisbane Queensland. During the last 20 years or so we have traveled extensively and have owned holiday property first in the ski fields in Colorado USA and now Italy. We love traveling and Casa Catalina was chosen not only for its peace and privacy but to give easy access via the train system and the airport at Pisa to most of Europe while still allowing us to ski. Richard has been described by his Australian builder friend as a serial house builder so we found an Italian house that needed a little love and attention after some 500 years. Here is just a sample of how we found it. You might recognize the old oven in one of the photos above.