Tuscan Villa Bagni di Lucca, Tuscany

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1 Tuscan Villa Bagni di Lucca, Tuscany

2 Amenities NAME Tuscan Villa PROPERTY NUMBER 1904 BATHS 6.5 BEDROOMS 7 SLEEPS 14 PRICE Please Call RATING Platinum Star TYPE Villa CITY Italy REGION Europe COUNTRY Private Properties VIEW Mountain, Landscape, Pool COMMUNICATION phone TRANSPORTATION airline commercial, airline private, automobiles STAFF housekeeper, gardener, houseman SPECIAL PROVISIONS smoking permitted AMENITIES pool, jacuzzi ACTIVITIES biking, hiking, cultural tours, historic tours, wine tours, culinary, night life, religious facilities, shopping available

3 Description Features Breathtaking views of wooded Apennines from wonderfully peaceful hillside Spacious private home completely rebuilt to a very high standard Sophisticated and interesting decor with extensive collection of tribal and contemporary art Swimming pool and hot tub English-speaking staff Screens on bedroom windows and doors Overview Villa Fronzola perches dramatically on a hillside, surrounded by terraces of olive trees and lavender, fruit trees and herbs. The Apennines and the Garfagnana Valley recede gradually, mountain by mountain, creating a classically Renaissance horizon. From any position in or around the house, the views are exceptional. A handful of additions and enlargements over hundreds of years, most of which were built in the 1700's, has resulted in a delightful multi-story stone house with as much to interest the eye inside as out. The owners never lost their attention to detail or commitment to quality during the lengthy and extensive renovation. The compelling decor is full of style and reflects the owners extensive travels and passion for art. The comforts of home surround you, inspiring long, slow days of fresh

4 food, lively conversation and many good nights sleep in the fresh mountain air. Villa Fronzola is 25 minutes north of Lucca, and up the hill from the town of Bagni di Lucca, its houses perched along the edge of the Lima river. At a distance of some three kilometers, it is walkable (mostly downhill going and uphill coming) on mostly quiet country roads. Bagni di Lucca is a compact but complete village with all the necessary features and a cozy charm. From here you can explore Florence (we highly recommend taking the bus for convenience and comfort) and reach into Chianti as there are some lovely winding back roads. Longer days such as these can be balanced by days closer to home. Well-known towns such as Pisa, Lucca and Montecatini Terme -- with its world-reknowned spas -- are under an hour's drive. The Tuscan and Ligurian coasts -- Portofino, Santa Margherita and Cinque Terre, Forte dei Marmi (this summer resort for Florentines has some surprisingly good shopping), Pietrasanta and Carrara are all easy day trips. You can also wander into the hills and explore small villages steeped in the region's rural lifestyle. The rich natural beauty as well as the cultural traditions of Tuscany are all readily available to you. Entry Level Large entrance hall with striking African sculptures, staircase leads to lower level. Enormous two room living/dining room with cathedral ceilings, functioning wood stove and staircase to upper level. South-facing wall devoted to arched window which opens out completely, the window-ledge overflowing with geraniums in clay window boxes. Long wood dining table seats 14 on rattan straight-backed chairs. Comfortable upholstered sofa and matching chair plus modern day-bed grouped around oversize coffee table, appreciatively filled with all manner of books on Italy. Cozy library/den with two handsome upholstered couches and large working fireplace. Bookshelves stocked with reading material. Satellite television (CNN). Expansive eat-in kitchen, with separate eating area for eight. Doors open directly to top of driveway and courtyard. Cooking area with vast tumbled-marble tile counters is fully equipped for preparing large feasts (6-burner gas stove, large fridge/freezer, microwave, double sinks, dishwasher, espresso machine, food processor, toaster). The selection of cookware and serving pieces is extensive. A separate pantry adjoins the kitchen and contains a Tape and CD player, cookbooks, extra serving dishes, etc.

5 Full bath (open shower with curtain) at landing at top of stairs from Garden Level. Pretty double bedroom (full) with view to the southeast (screens), separate large closet. Ensuite bath (tub with hand-held shower, no curtain, and open shower stall with curtain) also with window screens. Charming sitting room with double height ceiling and two oversize rattan chairs with linen cushions set before large open hearth. More bookshelves with English titles. Private entrance from front courtyard as well as passageway to lower courtyard. Interior stairs (partially open) to second kitchen and loggia. Fax machine. Upper Level Staircase from living/dining room into central vestibule hung with striking black and white photographs. Romantic double bedroom (queen) with modern four-poster iron bed and decorative fireplace. Large armadio and upholstered reading chair with ottoman. Three windows face south and east, with screens. Fabulous ensuite bathroom with double inset sinks and two shower heads (open, no curtain). Window overlooking front courtyard, screen. Expansive double bedroom (queen) with carved antique headboard, a view to hills, pretty birds-eye maple and cherry wood armadio for clothes storage. Large ensuite bathroom (tub with hand-held shower, no curtain, and shower stall with curtain) finished in a flattering, warm peach wall finish. Door to adjacent kitchen & loggia. Unique loggia, again with windows opening out fully and set with flowering window boxes. Contemporary iron and rattan dining table with matching seats for six set before fabulous view. Open shelving serves as partition from open corner kitchen. Generously proportioned second kitchen (5-gas burner stove, oven, fridge with separate freezer, dishwasher, American coffee maker and espresso machine, toaster oven) with bright orange cupboards and grey marble counters (not stocked for cooking). Garden Level Back courtyard leads up stone staircase to double doors and large sitting area with two comfortable loveseats, coffee table and futon chair. Handsome Moroccan overhead lamp. One of several groupings of large Indonesian shadow puppets fills one wall. Indonesian cupboard is stocked with games for children. There are two closets for use by guests of the adjacent bedrooms. TV with VCR (VHS).

6 Delightful double bedroom (full) with romantic four-poster bed, draped with white linen and fresco of 'putti' (angels). Double doors (screened) open to private balcony plus second window to the east. Decorative fireplace and armoire. (Immediately adjacent staircase leads up to Entry Level Pantry and full bath if a private bath for this room is desired.) Smaller but charming double bedroom (twins can combine to form a king) with white fabric draping above bed. Working fireplace set against a recently completed fresco of the countryside and a large bird. South-facing window with screen. Pleasant double bedroom (twins can combine to form king) with newly painted fresco of Pan. South-facing window with screen. Full bath (tub with hand-held and wall-mounted shower, with curtain) with east-facing window (screen). Walls again a beautiful salmon color. Separate WC. Separate laundry with washing machines and dryer. Simple entry hall down several stairs from back courtyard leads to double bedroom (twins can be combined to form a king) and futon chair. Bunches of lavender hung to dry adorn one wall. Windows overlook the courtyard and green hills to the south. Private bath (tub with wall-mounted and hand-held shower, with curtain).

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