Description
WELCOME TO LA LUCERTOLA
We offer two spacious and well-appointed farmhouses in Tuscany, which can either be rented individually or together. They are adjacent and are known as Farmhouse 1 and Farmhouse 2. They are very similar and each can accommodate up to 6 people. They are located on the beautiful southern slopes of the Monti Pisani – an environmentally protected area of outstanding natural beauty and tranquility. La Lucertola is just a 20 minute drive from both Pisa and Lucca, 30 minutes from the coast, and an hour from Florence – the perfect combination of a countryside location yet also close to the sea and to the major art and cultural cities of Tuscany. La Lucertola is set amidst ancient and lovingly tended olive trees, which produce the most delicious and wholly organic, extra virgin olive oil, available for tasting and sale direct from us.
Farmhouse 2 offers spectacular panoramic views over olive grove, forest, field, Pisa, The Leaning Tower and the Mediterranean Sea. Fitted outside the farmhouse is a solid wood shade pergola with light curtains. It offers a wonderfully cool place under which one can dine, read, lounge or simply look out and muse over the amazing views. Under the pergola is a beautiful hand-built wooden table, 6 comfortable chairs and high quality sun loungers. WI-Fi is freely available throughout the property both inside and outside the farmhouses as well as down by the pool.
Farmhouse 2, on the ground floor, consists of an ample entrance hall with stairs leading up to the bedrooms and bathrooms, a comfortable lounge with a double sofabed for extra accommodation, a SmartTV, DVD player, library and CD player and a good-sized and very well-equipped kitchen with table and 6 chairs. In the colder months there is a firebox in the lounge and central heating throughout the house. Both the wood and the cost of the heating are included in the rental price. On the first floor there are two spacious bedrooms decorated with stunning hand-painted Tuscan design murals with a relaxing and harmonious colour-scheme. There is a large balcony running the length of the house which is accessed from the main bedroom. Here, one can sit and truly enjoy the wonderful and ever-changing view. The bedrooms can be made up as either singles or doubles and the second bedroom can easily accommodate an extra foldaway bed. Travel cots, (cot linen provided if required) high chairs and a stair-gate are also available. There are two bathrooms, both on the first floor, one of which is ensuite.
The Swimming Pool offers views to infinity and is quite simply fabulous. It is set in an elegant and spacious split level teak decking area and stone capped sun terrace and is in its own secure and dedicated area, complete with unique and fantastic olive tree shower! It is filled with fresh spring water direct from a source which springs from the hill above the houses and is salt treated, so no chlorine and fantastic on your skin. There are plenty of sun loungers, a shade pergola, chairs and a table. The pool is illuminated at night and wonderful for those who like a dip under the stars!
Wood Fired Oven - Fantastic for all kinds of cooking, including, but not only, pizzas! Really great fun for everybody, regardless of age or cooking ability and topped with a huge sense of satisfaction at the end! Free access to wood.
Good sized barbeques on wheels for ‘al fresco’ grilling where you want.
Wireless Internet & Smart TV - Wi-fi internet access is available at no extra charge and is suitable for live streaming. There is a SmartTV in the Lounge with an HDMI cable into which you can plug your iPads, Tablets and /or Laptops (you may have to bring your own adaptors).
Cots (including cot linen) high chairs, stair gates and extra foldaway beds can be provided upon request at no extra charge.
La Lucertola is perfectly located to make the most of the glories of Tuscany, both the universally famous and the lesser known jewels.
The Coast with wonderful wide sandy beaches with bars and restaurants is less than 30 minutes away. There are wonderful restaurants in the immediate vicinity to suit every occasion from the simple pizza and trattoria to Tuscan dining at its best and all at truly fair and honest prices.
PISA - with her world famous Leaning Tower is just 15 minutes away and can be clearly seen from the Farmhouse.
LUCCA - with her immaculate medieval centre and exquisite boutiques is also just a 15 minute drive away.
FLORENCE - with its wealth of art treasures and unique beauty is just an hour away.
LE CINQUE TERRE - Wonderful for walking and nature trails as well as great boat trips to each of the '5 Fingers' of this very particular and impressive coastline is only an hour and a half away
Walking/Running - There are a number of beautiful and varied walking trails all around La Lucertola, all accessible directly from the houses and through the olive grove.
Beaches - The beautiful sandy and wide beach of Marina di Vecchiano, set in the stunning National Park of San Rossore is only 10 kilometres (7 miles) away with safe and lifeguard-monitored bathing, ideal and great fun for kids. There are bars, restaurants, showers, sun loungers and easy parking, all sympathetically wood-built and in keeping with the feel of the National Park. More rocky beaches, ideal for snorkeling and scuba diving are just south of Livorno, at La Calafuria, less than an hour away. Horse-Riding in he National Park is also available.
Cycling & Scooters - Bikes and scooters can be easily hired at reasonable rates from Lucca. There are wonderful and well maintained riverside cycle paths just below La Lucertola
Paragliding - The Pisa Paragliding Club run by Walter Bardi is no more than a 15 minute drive, with ‘take-off’ being from the next hill towards San Giuliano Terme. The club caters for both experienced paragliders and inexperienced adventurers (tandem paragliding with an experienced and certified instructor or pilot). For more information please visit.
Torre del Lago - Ideal for bird watching and also home of the internationally renowned open air summer Puccini Opera Festival is only 7 miles away.
Rafting - Our good friend, Stefano is a fully qualified rafting and canoeing instructor who regularly takes people out rafting at various levels of difficulty and ages on the beautiful and nearby River Serchio and her tributaries.
Cooking Lessons - Our lovely friend, Erika offers an excellent and fun service which involves them coming to you with ingredients and wisdom. She’ll teach you the tricks of the trade and later on you sit down and enjoy the fruits of your labours.
Restaurant at Home - Our great friends Massimiliano and Enver come and cook dinner for you at the house. They arrive, prepare the food, you may watch and participate should you wish, and then they serve you at your table. This is a banquet and, as such, one would expect it to be of 2 hours or more at table. It is the essence of slow cooking and typically Tuscan.
Wine tasting - The nearby excellent wineries of Montecarlo di Lucca offer wine tasting opportunities and lunch
Olive picking - Should you happen to be here in the autumn and you fancy helping out picking olives, your help is most welcome! We can also organise for you to come to the local olive press and watch the fresh new oil being pressed.