Vacation rental renovated farmer house in northern Tuscany. For information please contact me at mmarmal@aol.com

1. Planning a vacation in Tuscany?
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2. A Tuscan vacation
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3. If you are planning a vacation in Italy, want to visit
Tuscany and like the countryside, let me know.
This property is located in Lunigiana, in northern
Tuscany, at the border with the Liguria region.
It is difficult to describe the beauty and
magic of the area and the richness of its history.
Perhaps it could help to say that the via Francigena
is walking distance from the property, that from one
of the terraces one can see three medieval
castles and many more are scattered in the
surrounding area, or that Italian poet Dante spent in
Lunigiana some of his life‘s
happiest times, or that in a half hour driving,
not even enough to cross the NJ Turnpike
sometimes, one can get to Lerici, Porto Venere
and le Cinque Terre......
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4. The Via Francigena is an ancient road and pilgrim
route
running from France to Rome, though it is usually
considered to have its starting
point much further away,
in the English cathedral city of
Canterbury.
As such, the route passes through
England, France, Switzerland and
Italy. The route was known in
Italy as the “Via Francigena”
(“the road that comes from
France”) or the “Via Romea
Francigena” (“the road to Rome that
comes from France”).
In mediaeval times it was an
important road and pilgrimage
route for those wishing to visit the
Holy Sea and the tombs of the apostles Peter and
Paul.
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5. Lerici Lerici is 20 miles west
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6. Porto Venere
also about 20 miles away
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7. Porto Venere
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8. Cinque Terre by ferry-boat from Lerici
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9. Cinque Terre
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10. Trekking
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11. Are we there yet??
Lunigiana is:
* 190 miles (300 km) from
Malpensa, the Milan airport.
* 96 miles (155 km) from
Florence.
* 52 miles (83 km) from
Lucca or Pisa.
* 60 miles (96 km) from
Portofino.
* 20 miles from the coast and
40 minutes to Versilia
beaches.
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12. A little bit about the
apartment:
It is one of two apartments in a 100
year old stone farm house which is
being renovated.
The apartment is on the top floor of
the house, just one flight up, and is
100 sq. mt. (about 1000 sf.). There
are two bathrooms as well as two
fireplaces on the main floor. In
addition there are two spacious lofts
accessed off the bedrooms that can be
used for working and /or sleeping.
The main floor features:
* Master bedroom with terrace and
bathroom
* Second bedroom with twin beds and
bathroom
* Kitchen with fireplace
* Living/dining room with fireplace
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13. The apartment is ideal for a couple with two children; sleeps 4 people + 2 in lofts.
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14. The property sits on top of a hill overlooking open
countryside and the Apuan Alps, from where the
Carrara marble is – alas, savagely – extracted.
The house is part of a medieval “borgo” on top of
a hill; basic food shopping, a pharmacy, two
gelato stores, post office, ATM machine, coffee
shop and cigarettes can be found in the village, a
one mile walk; serious food shopping can be done
by car 15 minutes away in the small town of Aulla,
in major food chains such as Conad or Lidl.
Horse back riding can be easily organized in a
farm/ranch about five miles away.
There is no swimming pool.
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15. one of the many cats spying breakfast on the kitchen window...
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16. View from master bedroom, south
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17. Master bedroom
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18. Master bedroom terrace
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19. Master bedroom terrace, south/west
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20. More cats..
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House babies

21. Work in progress...
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23. View on the Apuan Alps from courtyard
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24. The property is surrounded by hundred years old oaks. View east , from courtyard
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25. View south on Apuan Alps, Fall sunset
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26. South, early morning fog
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28. A winter sunrise
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29. If you are interested in reading a little about
Lunigiana, we suggest:
“A Tuscan Childhood” – the English classic memoir – by Kinta
Beevor, whose family lived in the Aulla fortress della
Brunella. “With its ivy-covered towers, chestnut forests and
magnificent views of the Apuane Alps, the castle became for
Beevor and her family ''an enchanted world far from English
formality.'‘ Philip Gambone, The New York Times
“ A little place in Italy” by Eric Newby.
If your Italian is good, there is a great library in Aulla with
many books on the local cooking (panigacci, testaroli…not to
be missed!), traditions and history, including the role the area
played during the WWII partisan resistance.
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30. People who were here said…
“My husband, my son and I visited during the summer and were immediately captivated by the
serenity of the location. Being able to overlook olive trees, take in the fresh air and see
extensive mountains relaxed us entirely. After this much needed 'R&R' we visited nearby
sites that included the breathtaking coastline of the Liguria sea in Lerici and along the Cinque
Terre. In all my travels we were never able to combine mountain hiking with beach comber
without changing our lodging. Ellen, Jim and Andre, NYC.”
• “We had a wonderful summer week stay at Monti. Great North Tuscany location
off the beaten tourist track, nestled on grounds of 12th Century castle, overlooking
quiet pastures and the Carrera white marbled mountains in the distance.
Memorable outdoor breakfasts and dinners with locally grown food and wine, and
landscape painting in the soft Tuscan morning and evening sunlight. Conveniently
located with easy day trips to Cinque Terra, Lucca, and neighborhood horse back
riding. Looking forward to return visit with Monti's charming hostess, Marianna.
• Brad & Debbie (NYC) ”
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