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The LOCATION is about 35 kilometres south-east of Florence, in the direction of Arezzo, at the foot of the Pratomagno mountains and not far from the Chianti area of central Tuscany. It is close to a village called Cascia and about 2 kilometres from the country town of Reggello. This can be found on almost any map covering the Florence area of Italy by following the river Arno eastward out of Florence; about 15 kilometres after it bends south at Pontassieve, Reggello can be found to the east of the river.
Both the 'A1' motorway and the Rome-Florence railway line are about eight kilometres away, giving easy access to the rest of north/central Italy and beyond. Florence is about 35 kilometres up the motorway; 25 to 50 minutes by train, depending on the train you catch. Other great cities such as Siena, Arezzo, Pisa, Lucca, Perugia, numerous smaller towns and places of interest, such as San Gimignano, and several famous beauty spots are all easily accessible.
THE SETTING AND THE LOCALITY: La Capanna is situated in a hamlet called I Tallini, a typical Italian small rural community, consisting of a few houses, a disused farm yard and a little chapel. Behind the house is a superb, view of the Pratomagno mountains, on which the light is constantly changing. They are tree clad high up, descending into olive groves and tiny vineyards, which run up close to the back of the house. There are numerous foot paths through the mountains, and there is a wealth of local flora and fauna. All around are typical Tuscan views, with all the characteristics of the area: cypress trees, olive groves and old buildings scattered amongst vineyards. The area is renowned in this part of Italy for the freshness of the air, and the local olive oil is generally held to be amongst the finest in the world.
Nearby Cascia (a ten minute walk) is a typical Tuscan village, famous for the Masaccio painting in the superb Romanesque church. There are several other fascinating small villages and towns nearby, many offering excellent walks, beautiful old churches and other ancient buildings and places of interest. Vallombrosa, a particularly famous beauty spot up in the mountains, is only a few kilometres away.
Westwards lies the river Arno and the Chianti hills, producing the splendid wines of the same name. Often considered one of the most beautiful regions in Europe, Chianti is a mixture of breathtaking views and charming, intimate villages. Around Cascia and Reggello there are far fewer tourists than in the Chianti heartland.
Slightly further afield, the cities of Florence, Siena and Arezzo offer a great variety of things to do and see. Medieval and Renaissance art and architecture is everywhere, there are theatres (some in the open-air), Roman and Etruscan ruins, shops and markets of every kind, as well as swimming baths, sports events and much more. Past visitors to the house have left numerous suggestions and personal recommendations of places to visit and things to do.
THE ACCOMMODATION AND FACILITIES
La Capanna is on a single floor. Six people can use the place very comfortably. It consists of four rooms:
1) A large sitting/dining room containing a well equipped kitchen area. This room has a large window offering superb views of the nearby mountains.
2) A bedroom with a double bed.
3) A smaller bedroom with two single beds.
4) A spacious bathroom which includes a shower, hand basin, WC and a bidet.
There is a large garden shed which contains a washing machine, a sink and a freezer. In both buildings there are clear instructions about gas, electricity, water and other essential information. There are also some guide books, brochures about places to visit, past visitors' recommendations, maps, a few games, a range of books for all ages to read and a radio/cd/cassette player. There are two mountain bikes in the garden shed which visitors are welcome to use as long as they maintain them well.
THE GARDEN: The extensive garden has lawns, patios, shaded and covered areas (including pergolas) so that visitors can always find a relatively private spot to sit, sunbathe or eat. There are several outdoor tables, chairs and sun-loungers and two bbqs. As well as shrubs and flowering plants there are herbs for cooking. From the garden, much of which is not directly overlooked by any other houses, there is a superb view up into the mountains. In addition to the garden, there is so much open land nearby that it is always easy to find a quiet, private outdoor spot.
LOCAL AMENITIES: The village of Cascia has plenty of traditional shops for most basic necessities, as well as a modern supermarket, a chemist, a bank and two restaurants. Reggello has shops for more specialised requirements, a travel agent, good restaurants, and a market on Saturdays. Excellent wines can be bought either from shops or directly from local producers. Nearby Figline offers even more extensive shopping facilities. For people interested in finding a real bargain in the world of "haute couture" (women's and men's) there is, nearby, a shopping centre called The Mall, home to the factory outlets of Gucci, Giorgio Armani, Yves Saint Laurent, and other top designer labels. Not far away there is a similar Prada outlet.
Restaurants: There are several good restaurants locally.
Swimming: there is a beautiful large open-air swimming pool only 1 km away.
Local sports facilities: Horse riding, tennis and fishing.
Public transport is good, with both buses and trains (local and mainline) in easy reach.
If you are going to fly it is best to get a flight to Pisa (the main airport for the area), Florence or Bologna and then either hire a car or use public transport.
Notes on price:
Low season £273 for 7 nights £486 for 14 nights
Mid season £330 for 7 nights £582 for 14 nights
Peak season 390 for 7 nights £699 for 14 nights
These rates are for 2 people. There is a small surcharge of £15 per week for each extra person.
You can pay by the following methods
Cheque, Bankers Draft, CashInter bank transfer
