Property Details

“Il Fortino” - 1500 sq ft
Situated at the edge of the Apuane Alps Regional Park atop the fortified medieval village of Viano, "Il Fortino" has breathtaking views over the Aulella and Lucido valleys. Nearly 400 years old, the stone village house is an original part of the village fortifications with its ramparts standing guard over the beautiful Lunigiana countryside.

It is built on three levels and has been lovingly restored to retain many original features. Access is from the village 'borgo' into the entry hall at ground floor level with bathroom, living/dining room with fireplace and fully fitted kitchen opening onto the terrace which sits in a commanding position atop the vaulted wall walk.
Stairs from the living area lead to the gallery landing from which are two double bedrooms with sloping wood ceilings, one with en-suite shower and one with vanity unit. The lower ground floor is accessed via stairs down from the kitchen and contains a further twin bedroom with french doors leading directly onto the vaulted portico in front of the property.
"Il Fortino" is just 10 mins drive from shops, restaurants and train station and only 20 minutes drive from the motorway. The beautiful seaside resorts of the Versilian Riviera are just a short car ride away as well as the famous "Cinque Terre" coastal villages. In common with other medieval villages, cars are parked at the entrance to the village and a short walk leads to the property.
Sleeps: 6 (2 double rooms; 1 twin room)
Rates: £400 to £800 GBP per week
Changeover day: Saturday (other days can be arranged subject to bookings)
Sorry no pets and no inside smoking
* Master bedroom with en-suite facilities, double
room with vanity unit, twin room.
* Panoramic private terrace with stunning views of the
Apennines and Alpe Apuane
* Furnished and equipped to a very high standard.
* A short drive away (10 mins)is the spa of Equi Terme where
there is an excellent swimming pool fed by the
thermal springs.
* Access: Car preferable, although there is a railway
station at Monzone just 2½ miles away.
For more information go to www.LeisureItalia.com

Local Area Details

The property is situated in the medieval village of Viano in the Lunigiana area of Tuscany. Built on an ancient Roman site, the medieval fortified village of Viano is crowned by the Tower of Viano a remnant of the Viano Castle once owned by Spinetta the Great (died 1352), a powerful member of the Malaspina family which dominated the area in the middle ages. Under the gaze of the tower stands a public courtyard, a magical place in a stunning hilltop position where various community events are held every year.
You will find the local people in Viano warm and friendly. There is a bar and a shop in the village and regular vans bring fresh bread, fish, groceries and produce. The villages of Gragnole and Monzone have shops and are just 10 minutes drive away. Larger supermarkets can be found in Aulla, Villafranca and Sarzana. There are post offices and banks in both Gragnole and Monzone. Gragnole has a chemist. Part of Tuscany, Lunigiana is an ancient territory extending from the Apennines to the mouth of the River Magra. This hidden corner of Tuscany is rich in mediaeval history: castles, Romanesque churches and ancient hilltop hamlets of astonishing beauty dot the landscape everywhere.
Bounded by the Mediterranean Sea, the Apuane Alps and the Appenine Mountains, Lunigiana is a land lost in time. Its geographical location and turbulent history have combined to create a unique landscape, one that, even to this day, remains preserved and intact from over-development. Lunigiana remains virtually untouched by the rampant urbanisation and industrialisation that plague many areas of outstanding natural beauty in other countries. It has a uniquely rural character where life moves at a traditional pace yet it is easy to reach from the international airports at Pisa, Genoa, Parma and Milan.

For more information go to www.LeisureItalia.com

Lunigiana - a truly enchanting holiday destination !

Additional Information

About Beaches

Viano is inland from La Spezia on the Mediterranean coast. South of La Spezia, along the Versilia Coast from Marinella di Sarzana to Viaraggio, there are many beaches amongst them some of the longest and finest in the Mediterranean. A number of these are quality stretches requiring a small entrance fee. The entry prices can vary depending on the location and facilities such as water skiing, wind surfing and paragliding. The most northerly of the Cinque Terre villages, Monterosso, also boasts a long sandy beach with both public and private sections.

About Skiing

Just 30-40 minutes drive away from Viano are the pretty ski resorts of Zum Zeri, Cerreto Laghi and Prato Spilla. These resorts are situated in the Apennine mountains and are are ideal for family ski-ing and snow-boarding.

About Parks

Viano is surrounded by major parks of international significance: 1. Equi Caves Cultural Park: the prehistoric Equi offers a diverse natural experience including grottos, canyons, the Equi Terme thermal spa town, the Equi Cut walk, the Caves Museum, the Archeopark and "The Buca" (The Pit). The Equi Caves Cultural Park opens on July 15th and closes on September 15th. 2. National Park of the Apennines: The wild, and extraordinary beauty of this region includes ecosystems of great scientific interest. Amongst the peaks golden eagles soar and wild Apennine wolves roam. Within the recently formed Apennine park you can find some of the highest peaks of the northern Apennines, from where you can enjoy wide views over steep valleys, large woods, and large mountain grasslands. 3. Apuane Alps Regional Park: the striking Apuane range of marble-topped mountains sits between the Apennines and the sea. This extraordinary alpine landscape encloses an incredible variety of rare flowers and plants as well as wild fauna and important archeological and geological sites. For the active it is possible to go on beautiful walking or horseriding tours and the steep mountainsides and deep caves of the Apuane Alps attract many cavers and climbers. 4. Cinque Terre National Park: On the coast within 45 minutes drive lies the delightful “Cinque Terre” - five old, pastel-coloured fishing villages strung along the coast to the north of La Spezia which rise sheer from the sea in dramatic situations. Riomaggiore, Manarola, Corniglia, Vernazza and Monterosso all produce wine for which they are renowned since ancient times. Surrounded by steep terraced vineyards which tumble down to tiny coves and beaches where you can swim and relax. At Monterosso there is a huge sandy beach with all facilities. It is possible to visit the Cinque Terre by train (every hour from La Spezia) or by boat. The villages are linked by the main Rome-Paris railway (mostly underground) and can be reached by daily boat trips from Monterosso and Lerici. By far the best way to see the Cinque Terre is by foot and a network of ancient paths and mule tracks link the villages through olive groves and vineyards, orchards and chestnut woods. The Cinque Terre National Park is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and the railway line was voted No 1 “Railway Window on the World" by “The Independent” in 2006.

About Walking

Without doubt, Lunigiana offers some of the finest walking in the world. Whether you traverse the high mountains of the magnificent Alpe Apuane or Appenine mountains, explore the chestnut woods and meadows of the beautiful valleys or follow the banks of the many rivers and torrents you will have an unforgettable experience. Lunigiana and the Alpe Apuane offer over 250 km of marked trails. Spring and Autumn are the best seasons for hiking in this area. Spring is resplendent with flowers and in autumn chestnuts and mushrooms can be collected (with the appropriate permits of course). Summer also offers glorious walking although it can be a bit too hot for some! Delicious wild raspberries and blueberries abound and these can be enjoyed without restriction. In the mountains long-distance walkers can take advantage of the Refuge (rifugio) system of the Italian Alpine Club which provide shelter to hikers and climbers.

About History

Castles & Forts It is not for nothing that Lunigiana is known as the land of the 100 castles. Indeed, during the middle ages Lunigiana had no less than 160 castles although the ravages of time and war has reduced this figure today. Nonetheless, the region still has the highest concentration of fortified structures in Italy and dozens of these defensive structures are to be found dotted around the area often in magnificent positions. Viano itself is a fortified village on the site of the ancient Viano castle, part of a line of fortifications that protected the ancient Via Francigena trading and pilgrimage route to Rome.

Contact Information

Name:	Alan Kennedy
Telephone:	++44-(01524-782830
Alt Telephone:	0771-141-7468
Fax:	++44-(01524-782831
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