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Cycling
Bikes can be hired in Lucca. A couple of old bikes are left at the house to borrow. Please lock up at all times when out.
Beaches
The coastal resorts of Versilia, namely Viareggio, Forte dei Marmi, Lido di Camaiore and Lido di Pietrasanta, all lie within easy reach of Nozzano Castello and are served with excellent public transport links from Lucca especially in the summer. Forte dei Marmi has a marvellous outdoor market on Wednesdays until 1pm which is well worth a visit for its cashmeres.
Not far north of Lucca and just inside Liguria lies the area of the Cinque Terre famed for its tranquil coastal scenery and picturesque fishing villages, accessible only by boat or by taking a train.
Nearer to Nozzano Castello lies the small Lake of Massaciuccoli which is a treasured nature reserve and an ideal spot for keen ornithologists with bird hides overlooking the lake.
The Apuan Alps and the Garfagnana
Villa del Castello offers spectacular views of the Apuan Alps to the North which dominate the coastal scenery. The area is a protected Parco Regionale and a huge draw both for enthusiastic ramblers as well as naturalists. There are numerous marked trails deep in the mountains and an extraordinary variety of flora and fauna.
The main towns in this area are Massa and Carrara which is the marble capital of Italy. Michelangelo chose marble from these mountains for the works that would become his masterpieces such as the famous 'David' in Florence and the Pietà in Rome and the marble industry is still vital to the local economy. It is possible to visit the marble quarries as well as the Grotta del Vento, one of the biggest and most beautiful stalactite and stalagmite caverns in Italy, and well known as Tuscany's best cave.
The Garfagnana is a beautiful and unspoilt area North of Lucca between the Apuan Alps and the Apennines where there are a good range of signposted walks, especially in the mountainous Orecchiella range.
Mountain rock pools at Forno are magical, not easy to find, but I can give you directions.
Cinque Terre
Another amazing visit. A boat trip from Viareggio is a great day out and a wonderful way to see and stop off at all the peninsulars. Going by train is also one of the best ways to see all of Cinque Terre.
Florence
There is a train direct from Nozzano, but you can get trains and coaches to all major town and cities from Lucca. Below is a link to the rail line, for timetables and fares.
Trenitalia
Thermal spas
Tuscany is an area rich in natural hot springs and a number of locations in the vicinity of Lucca have become spa towns, notably Montecatini Terme, Monsummano Terme and Giuliano Terme near Nozzano Castello.
Sport
Due to its mild climate, golf can be played all year round in Tuscany. There are golf courses in Versilia, Pietrasanta and at Pisa. There are tennis clubs in Lucca and its surrounding area where games can be booked without having to be a member.
Hang-gliding and paragliding
Just a few kilometres North of Lucca, on the "Pizzorne" peaks, there is ample opportunity to practise hang-gliding and paragliding
http://www.altatensione.org/enindex.php
Walking
For keen walkers there are numerous interesting walks and rambles in the Apuan Alps as well as in the Garfagnana and the Apennines. Guided walks are also available.
Walk and Wine tours. Wine and Olive tasting tours.
http://www.notordinaryways.com/tuscany-tours/walk-wine-tour.htm
Water Park at Cecina about an hour away.
http://www.acquavillage.it/en/maps/cecina/
Water sports are available in the coastal resorts and sailing lessons are offered at Lake Massaciuccoli.
Sienna
http://www.sienaitaly.com/
The Village is only 15k away from Lake Massaciuccoli and Torre del Lago which was home to Puccini for thirty years and is now the location of the international annual Puccini festival in July and August.
http://www.worldwideticketing.com/puccini-festival/
Lajatico, in the province of Pisa is the birthplace of the tenor, Andrea Bocelli, and is also only a short distance away from the Villa by car. His acclaimed annual concerts in July each year at the Teatro del Silenzio draw audiences from all over the world.
www.andreabocelli.com/tourdates
Lucca's lively Summer Festival, which takes place in June and July every year, hosts big-name bands and singers who perform on a outdoor stage in Piazza Napoleone in the very heart of Lucca.
http://summer-festival.com/
Indeed music is very much everywhere in Lucca, which is the birthplace of Puccini, there being concerts in churches all year round.
The popular Lucca Antiques Fair takes place on the 3rd weekend of every month and attracts antique dealers from all over Italy. It is held outside around the Duomo and Via del Battistero in the centre of the city.
Shopping/Markets in Lucca:
http://tuscany.angloinfo.com
Bagno (Private beach facilities):
Private beach facilities provide and they are all along Versilia, which includes beach after beach of long sands from Viareggio to Cararra. You pay per day or week for your own umbrella, loungers and use of the bar, showers, toilets, pool etc.
The free beaches are placed intermittently along this Versilia coastline, and I would say that the one in Forte Dei Marmi and Marina di Massa is the best.
Car Hire:
From Pisa http://www.holidayautos.co.uk
Bikes can be hired in Lucca. A couple of old bikes are left at the house to borrow. Please lock up at all times when out.
Beaches
The coastal resorts of Versilia, namely Viareggio, Forte dei Marmi, Lido di Camaiore and Lido di Pietrasanta, all lie within easy reach of Nozzano Castello and are served with excellent public transport links from Lucca especially in the summer. Forte dei Marmi has a marvellous outdoor market on Wednesdays until 1pm which is well worth a visit for its cashmeres.
Not far north of Lucca and just inside Liguria lies the area of the Cinque Terre famed for its tranquil coastal scenery and picturesque fishing villages, accessible only by boat or by taking a train.
Nearer to Nozzano Castello lies the small Lake of Massaciuccoli which is a treasured nature reserve and an ideal spot for keen ornithologists with bird hides overlooking the lake.
The Apuan Alps and the Garfagnana
Villa del Castello offers spectacular views of the Apuan Alps to the North which dominate the coastal scenery. The area is a protected Parco Regionale and a huge draw both for enthusiastic ramblers as well as naturalists. There are numerous marked trails deep in the mountains and an extraordinary variety of flora and fauna.
The main towns in this area are Massa and Carrara which is the marble capital of Italy. Michelangelo chose marble from these mountains for the works that would become his masterpieces such as the famous 'David' in Florence and the Pietà in Rome and the marble industry is still vital to the local economy. It is possible to visit the marble quarries as well as the Grotta del Vento, one of the biggest and most beautiful stalactite and stalagmite caverns in Italy, and well known as Tuscany's best cave.
The Garfagnana is a beautiful and unspoilt area North of Lucca between the Apuan Alps and the Apennines where there are a good range of signposted walks, especially in the mountainous Orecchiella range.
Mountain rock pools at Forno are magical, not easy to find, but I can give you directions.
Cinque Terre
Another amazing visit. A boat trip from Viareggio is a great day out and a wonderful way to see and stop off at all the peninsulars. Going by train is also one of the best ways to see all of Cinque Terre.
Florence
There is a train direct from Nozzano, but you can get trains and coaches to all major town and cities from Lucca. Below is a link to the rail line, for timetables and fares.
Trenitalia
Thermal spas
Tuscany is an area rich in natural hot springs and a number of locations in the vicinity of Lucca have become spa towns, notably Montecatini Terme, Monsummano Terme and Giuliano Terme near Nozzano Castello.
Sport
Due to its mild climate, golf can be played all year round in Tuscany. There are golf courses in Versilia, Pietrasanta and at Pisa. There are tennis clubs in Lucca and its surrounding area where games can be booked without having to be a member.
Hang-gliding and paragliding
Just a few kilometres North of Lucca, on the "Pizzorne" peaks, there is ample opportunity to practise hang-gliding and paragliding
http://www.altatensione.org/enindex.php
Walking
For keen walkers there are numerous interesting walks and rambles in the Apuan Alps as well as in the Garfagnana and the Apennines. Guided walks are also available.
Walk and Wine tours. Wine and Olive tasting tours.
http://www.notordinaryways.com/tuscany-tours/walk-wine-tour.htm
Water Park at Cecina about an hour away.
http://www.acquavillage.it/en/maps/cecina/
Water sports are available in the coastal resorts and sailing lessons are offered at Lake Massaciuccoli.
Sienna
http://www.sienaitaly.com/
The Village is only 15k away from Lake Massaciuccoli and Torre del Lago which was home to Puccini for thirty years and is now the location of the international annual Puccini festival in July and August.
http://www.worldwideticketing.com/puccini-festival/
Lajatico, in the province of Pisa is the birthplace of the tenor, Andrea Bocelli, and is also only a short distance away from the Villa by car. His acclaimed annual concerts in July each year at the Teatro del Silenzio draw audiences from all over the world.
www.andreabocelli.com/tourdates
Lucca's lively Summer Festival, which takes place in June and July every year, hosts big-name bands and singers who perform on a outdoor stage in Piazza Napoleone in the very heart of Lucca.
http://summer-festival.com/
Indeed music is very much everywhere in Lucca, which is the birthplace of Puccini, there being concerts in churches all year round.
The popular Lucca Antiques Fair takes place on the 3rd weekend of every month and attracts antique dealers from all over Italy. It is held outside around the Duomo and Via del Battistero in the centre of the city.
Shopping/Markets in Lucca:
http://tuscany.angloinfo.com
Bagno (Private beach facilities):
Private beach facilities provide and they are all along Versilia, which includes beach after beach of long sands from Viareggio to Cararra. You pay per day or week for your own umbrella, loungers and use of the bar, showers, toilets, pool etc.
The free beaches are placed intermittently along this Versilia coastline, and I would say that the one in Forte Dei Marmi and Marina di Massa is the best.
Car Hire:
From Pisa http://www.holidayautos.co.uk
MOSQUITOS:
Mosquitos can be a problem in Italy and it is recommended to bring suitable repellents or after bite creams, however, all rooms have an electric plug-in VAPE repellent machine which works very well at night and requires just a tablet change daily. These can be easily found in all the supermarkets. Citronella candles are a good deterrent in the garden.
HERE ARE SOME USEFUL RECOMMENDATIONS:
HERE ARE SOME USEFUL RECOMMENDATIONS:
Daily and Weekly Markets:
Flower market - Lucca
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 Antiques market - Lucca. Third weekend of every month |
 Wednesday Market at Forte dei Marmi |
 Viareggio Market |
Designer Outlets in Tuscany:
 Barberino Designer Outlet |
 Valdichiana Outlet Village |
 The Mall, Florence |
 Ikea, Forence Sesto Fiorentino AND NOW OPEN IN PISA! |
Nearby Supermarkets:Coop: Large cooperative supermarket, only 5 minutes drive from the house. Bus stops outside. The supermarket is located behind Mercatone Uno which is a large household store similar to Homebase/Ikea.
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Lidl is located again only 5 minutes drive from the house on the opposite side of Coop.
Conad is another supermarket, that also specialises in certain foods from other parts of the world. This is located a little further along from Lidl, turn right at the traffic lights, Pam is on the left.  |
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Esselunga is a really good supermarket, full of fresh food counters and international foods. The nearest is located just outside the walls of Lucca in San Concordia.
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Carrefour - is located in Lucca past the hospital. It is a hypermarket and stocks a huge variety of goods, including a clothes, sport, garden, toy and electrical departments.
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Christmas in Lucca.
Anfiteatro, Lucca
Traditional. Atmospheric. Designer Shops. Small boutiques. Late night shopping.
With the property only being 10 minutes outside of Lucca, you can shop 'til you drop, before coming home to a nice "cup of tea!"
SPECIAL SHORT STAY WEEKEND PACKAGES AVAILABLE - CONTACT THE OWNER.
With the property only being 10 minutes outside of Lucca, you can shop 'til you drop, before coming home to a nice "cup of tea!"
SPECIAL SHORT STAY WEEKEND PACKAGES AVAILABLE - CONTACT THE OWNER.