VILLA ALTEA

VILLA ALTEA - MONTECATINI ALTO 

6 Bedrooms

Location and Surrounding Area
Villa Altea lies in one of Tuscany's most enviable positions, snuggled into the picturesque rolling hills yet only a reasonable drive from the exclusive beach resorts around Viareggio. This property would make an ideal destination for a large group of family of friends wishing to emerge themselves in authentic Italian culture close to some of the country's finest coastal resorts. One of your first stops after a long trip is likely to be a relaxing afternoon at the Montecatini thermal baths, which have been soothing various ailments since Roman times. You'll find plenty of restaurants plus all of the other services you might need during your stay. There is also a fabulous panoramic funicolare ride in two pretty red trains up the hill to the beautiful Montecatini Alto village with breathtaking views of the Valdinievole Valley. This valley was the birthplace of both Leonardo Da Vinci and the popular marionette Pinocchio. 

Medieval Pistoia is a relatively unknown Tuscan jewel and its architecture begs to be discovered. Take a wander around the central Piazza del Duomo and climb to the top of the Bell Tower from where, on a very clear day, you can make out Florence's Duomo in the distance. During the late medieval and Renaissance times, the city was well known for its feuding and fighting. Dante even went as far as to condemn the feisty inhabitants as “the enemies of heaven”. On a related note, although some scholars dispute the fact, local legend has it that the earliest pistols were invented in Pistoia in the early 1500s by Caminellio Vitelli. Pistolese (literally meaning “from Pistoia”) was an interchangeable Italian word used to describe both a handheld firearm and a double-edged, hunting dagger.

Viareggio is a popular seaside town, home to the famous carnival parade and a whole host of summer events such as the Puccini Festival, the Jazz Festival as well as various theatre productions. The area is famous not only for its fine food and wine but also the Versilia coastline and its fashionable resorts and celebrity beach clubs. The gently-sloping, sandy shelf makes the beaches safe for small children. Nearby Forte dei Marmi is a shopper's dream with its avant-garde boutiques, designer shops and exclusive restaurants.

Lucca has often been voted one of the world's most desirable cities to live in or visit. It is perhaps most famous for it's thick, 16th century ramparts which encircle the city and were restored in the 19th century to create a wide, tree-lined walkway. You can walk or cycle on top of the whole length of the walls and peep down into the wonders of the town within. There are pretty cobbled streets, ancient piazzas, gorgeous churches, glorious renaissance buildings, markets and countless local restaurants, bars and trattorias. The Italian opera maestro, Giacomo Puccini, was born here and the town often hosts international opera as well as classical music events and rock concerts.

Florence is the capital city of Tuscany and an art-lover's paradise. It was the centre of the Italian Renaissance movement and the museums, galleries, palaces and churches house some of the world's greatest artistic treasures. The Bell Tower next to the cathedral was designed by Giotto and the climb up its 414 steps is well worth the effort for the astounding view from the top over Florence and the surrounding hills. The Uffizi, Bargello, Pitti Palace, Boboli Gardens and the Accademia have to been seen and once you tire of art and history, take a wander through the pretty streets and across the Ponte Vecchio bridge which spans the River Arno. Florence is also home to designer shopping and fine wine and dining experiences. Thick, juicy Florentine steaks are a local speciality and best accompanied by a delicious, local Chianti wine.

Villa Altea is only a couple of minute's drive from Montecatini Alto, Pistoia is 20 minutes away, Lucca half an hour, Viareggio 45 minutes and Florence less than an hour. Your nearest international airport would be Florence airport, which is about half an hour from the villa. Pisa international airport is about 45 minutes.

The Property
Villa Altea offers more than 400 m2 of accommodation over three floors and sleeps up to 14 guests in six double bedrooms. Each of the bedrooms is air conditioned and elegantly decorated in soft shades designed specifically to make our guests feel at home. You'll find three en suite bedrooms on the top floor, including a romantic master bedroom, which features a private panoramic terrace for intimate breakfasts with your loved one and a hydromassage bathtub. The other two doubles on the top floor also have hydromassage tubs in the en suites. The remaining three double bedrooms (two of which share a bathroom) are on the entrance floor of the property and include the master suite, which features an American style king sized bed, a sitting/dining area with a double sofa bed and a gorgeous patio with lovely views across the hills. A large living room with fireplace completes the entrance level.

The ground level is given over to the pleasures in life with a huge, professional standard kitchen which would be ideal for rustling up some tasty local delicacies or why not have a private chef come in and do all the hard work for you? You can enjoy your meals at either the big wooden tables indoors or outside on the gorgeous 150 m2 veranda, which looks out over the swimming pool and Montecatini Alto beyond. Either way, there is plenty of space for everyone with a comfortable blend of dining areas and lounging spaces. The veranda has ceiling fans and heating so no matter which time of year you decide to visit, you'll be able to spend a lot of your time out here on the dining patios.

The gardens, swimming pool and veranda are everyone's favourite places on the property. The 200 m2, kidney-shaped pool and furnished poolside area are designed to pamper the soul. The pool is properly gated if small children are running around freely and the pool can be heated all winter if requested. You'll find two changing rooms, two bathrooms and two showers so no need to run up and down from your room during lazy days spent in the water. A poolside bar, fridge and ice machine guarantee all day refreshments and the Wi-Fi signal is full strength, just in case you can't leave your emails behind.

Request information