Villa Melinda

Molazzana 3 br Vacation Rental Villa

Villa Melinda is a lovely apartment which is part of a large villa surrounded
by the vegetation, situated in a splendid hillside area. The apartment is 130
square meters (about 1400 square feet). It sleeps five people and has a private
swimming pool and a garden. It takes up the entire upper half of a 400-year-old
stone villa. The house is built on sloping ground, so that Villa Melinda has a
private entrance and is independent of the rest of the building.

It is approximately 40 km (25 miles) from Lucca, 65 km (40 miles) from Pisa, 90
km (56 miles) from Florence.

The house

Villa Melinda is situated up in the hills, in the area of Tuscany which is
called Garfagnana. It has a splendid view of the Serchio river valley. You will
reach it traveling a private driveway for 100 meters (110 yards), and you won't
see other houses close by.

At Villa Melinda you will find a large bedroom with a double bed, a bedroom with
two twin beds, a bedroom with a single bed, a spacious living room, a kitchen and a bathroom with a bath tub and a shower. The kitchen is
equipped with four-burner cooker, microwave oven and refrigerator. In the living
room you will find a fireplace-stove.

All the rooms have a magnificent view of the steep tree-covered hills and of the
verdant valley below, where the Serchio river flows.

The house is furnished in a pleasant and complete way.

You will have at your disposal laundry room, television, central heating and
parking.

From the house you will be able to enter the garden. There you will find a
barbecue area, a table with chairs, sun lounges and benches to sit on and gaze
at the nice view that will be in front of you.

The swimming pool

You will be able to use an above-ground swimming pool of 8 x 4 meter (26 x 13
feet), 1.30 meter deep (4.2 feet), surrounded by the vegetation. By the pool
there are deck chairs and umbrellas. It is open from June 1st to September 30th.

While you lay by the pool, your sight will wander free on the relaxing panorama
of vegetation that is around you.

The location

Villa Melinda is located just north of Florence, in the Garfagnana valley. This
valley has plenty of evidence of a history that dates back to the Middle Ages,
when the Lords of Florence contested the area with the Lords of Lucca.

This valley, enclosed between the Alps and the Apennines, where the Serchio
river runs, is a jewel box filled with naturalist treasures, which are protected
in parks and reserves. Here you will find the Apuane Alps Park, with its Grotta
del Vento (Wind Grotto), the Reserve of the Orrido di Botri, also called the
Tuscan canyon, and the Reserve of the mountainous horst called Pania di Corfino,
with its botanical garden of endemic species.

This is the ideal environment to be in touch with the nature. You will be able
to discover its ancient history and the traditional hospitality of the local
people.

Our advice is to visit the Garfagnana by horse, on foot, by mountain bike or
with slow-moving transports, traveling the old mule tracks or the ancient
panoramic roads.

Doing so you will be able to enjoy the extraordinary beauty of these highlands
and mountains covered by beeches and chestnut trees at its fullest.

Do not miss the field trip to the close-by Grotta del Vento, an amazing grotto 4
km long (2.5 miles). Guided tours along floodlit paths will allow you to admire
wonderful natural phenomena inside. And at the exit you will find restaurants
for a taste of the fine local cuisine!

The closest center where you will be able to find shops and restaurant is the
burg of Molazzana, at 3 km (2 miles).

The stop for the local bus is approximately 100 meters (yards) from the villa.

The closest train station is Gallicano, at 7 km (4.5 miles).

The closest airport is Pisa, at 65 km (40 miles).

The owners live on site. They will be available, yet completely discreet, to
attend to your every need and to provide tourist information.

Nearby tourist attractions

Staying at Villa Melinda you will be in an excellent location to visit both the
art cities of Tuscany and the Tyrrhenian Sea coast, with its splendid and
elegant beaches of Forte dei Marmi and Viareggio.

You will be able to reach Lucca, encircled by its medieval walls, with a
40-minute drive. In one hour you will reach Pisa, to visit the Piazza dei
Miracoli and its famous leaning tower. Florence and its magnificent art
treasures are a 1.5-hour drive away.

You will be able to travel along a spectacular road on the Apuane Apls, to
descend towards the sea and the Verisilia. Doing so will allow you to reach the
famous beaches of Forte dei Marmi and Viareggio in 1.5 hours.

If you enjoy skiing, in the winter time you will be able to reach the skiing
facilities of the Abetone resort, which is only 40 km (25 miles) away.

Accommodations: Independent house or villa in small complex

The rental price includes: final cleaning; electricity; linens; towels.