VILLA SALETTA - CASOLARE

VILLA SALETTA – CASOLARE – PALAIA

3 Bedrooms

Location and Surrounding Area
This superb Tuscan estate dates back to the 1300s and has passed through just four aristocratic families since that time, including the Riccardi family, the bankers to the once powerful Medici's. The picturesque estate is well known as a film setting and can be seen in the Taviani brothers' films “La notte di San Lorenzo” and “Fiorile” as well as Paolo Virzi's film “Io e Napoleone”. The eco-sustainable restorations have included the surrounding woodlands and ancient vineyards, which today produce a series of high quality wines. The area is famous for its truffles and during the season, truffle hunts make for a fun day out. Palaia is a lovely little village dating back to Etruscan times and the castle has been documented since 936. It is situated off the tourist track yet conveniently located for Florence, Pisa and Lucca plus the beaches around Viareggio and the famous Castelfalfi golf course. You'll also find all of the necessary shops and services for your stay. Palaia has plenty of buildings of historical interest including the Church of San Martino with its facade of terracotta tiles.

Pisa is best-known for its leaning tower in Piazza dei Miracoli but the city is also home to a multitude of beautiful churches, historical buildings, bridges and medieval palaces. Once you have photographed yourself in various amusing poses by the famous bell tower, take a wander around the 11^th century Romanesque-Pisan cathedral, then along the banks of the River Arno and finish up with a traditional cecina, a mouthwatering, flat bread made from chick pea flour and stuffed all sorts of wonderful delicacies.

Lucca has often been voted one of the world's most desirable cities to live in or visit. It is perhaps most famous for its thick, 16^th century ramparts which encircle the city and were restored in the 19^th century to create a wide, tree-lined walkway. You can walk or cycle along the whole length of the wall tops and look down at 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.

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 Piazza del Duomo is one of the most visited places in Europe. Piazza del Duomo is home to the magnificent Cathedral with Brunelleschi's Dome, Giotto's Bell Tower and the Baptistry, which are all part of the UNESCO World Heritage Site covering the historical centre of Florence. 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, fine wine and even finer dining experiences. Thick, juicy Florentine steaks are a local speciality and best accompanied by a delicious, local Chianti wine.

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.

Castalfafi is one of the most seductive golf courses in Tuscany and golfers can play for most of the year, thanks to the warm Tuscan climate. There are two courses (the Lake Course and the Mountain Course) with a total of 27 holes, a driving range, covered areas for golf clinics and a Club House with panoramic terrace and café. In 2011, the 18 hole Mountain Course was awarded 3^rd prize in the prestigious Golf Inc Renovation of the Year.

The estate is about 20 km from the Castelfalfi Golf course, 40 km from Pisa and Lucca and about 70 km from Florence and Viareggio. The nearest international airports are situated in Pisa and Florence. The tennis courts in Forcoli are only a ten minute drive from the villa and the nearest train station is 15 minutes away in Pontedera.

The Property. Villa Casolare is one of 20 gorgeous Tuscan farmhouses on the 690 hectare estate. The fairytale woodlands around Villa Casolare give the place an air of peace and seclusion and it would make an ideal writer's retreat. The property was once a hunting lodge and sleeps up to six guests in three gorgeous, air conditioned bedrooms with queen size beds and en suite bathrooms. You'll find two bedrooms on the ground floor and a glorious master suite on the second floor. The living accommodation is all on the first floor. The living room is spacious and comfortably rustic with all modern comforts. The dining room seats eight guests and the kitchen is fully equipped with everything you might need for creating some authentic local dishes. You can choose to either eat in the dining room or outside on the pretty, stone terrace by the swimming pool. You'll even find a handy barbecue nearby if you fancy some chargrilled vegetables.

The enclosed gardens around Villa Casolare have an electronic gate, lush lawns, a swimming pool and a furnished poolside sunbathing area. The grounds are vast, covering an area of nearly 700 hectares. Once you've finished splashing about in the pool and soaking up the sun, take a 15 minute walk through the gardens and woodlands over to the private chapel. Your evenings can be spent tasting wine on the terrace, enjoying the luxury of a private chef or just lounging around the pool with cocktails.

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