North Tuscany, stone retreat near Cinque Terre

The charm of stone walls meets the comfort in a romantic, luxury suite with a complete kitchenette, for up to 4 adults and 1 toddler. A patio surrounded by Nature will give you privacy and relax. Your holiday house is in the hamlet of Fornoli in Lunigiana, a still genuine region, away from the beaten path, with a rich history and food tradition. Still, it's an ideal base for day trips to many points of interest in half to one-hour drive radius: Cinque Terre, Portovenere, Carrara, Pisa, Lucca... The apartment has its independent entrance and it consists of a large living room, a bedroom, a bathroom, a kitchenette, and a large patio connected to a little garden. It can comfortably accommodate up to 4 adults and 1 toddler in its romantic and charming atmosphere. Free parking is a few meters away. We love the authenticity of this area, the climate is mild and it's such a quiet countryside. We love as well the wide and rich culinary tradition born from the merging of many local cuisines, some of the oldest in Italy. If you love nature, you can take long walks on the Apuan Alps, or go horseback riding up the hills, go rafting or fishing in the Magra river, and, during the autumn season, the forest of Fornoli is a paradise for mushroom hunters. Why not take the opportunity to discover the beauty of Lunigiana itself? You will appreciate a place full of charm, with its wild and beautiful landscapes, its rich culinary traditions, its medieval towns, and its many castles. Summer evenings come alive with festivals and every small town has its "Sagra" based on local food; not to mention the prestigious literary prize "Bancarella" in Pontremoli and the medieval costume festival of Filetto… Visiting Lunigiana you'll get immersed in its ancient history; ancient as the prehistoric "Stele statues" that are its symbol or as the rocks on which your holiday's apartment was built. The apartment has an independent entrance and a stone patio with garden furniture and parasol. The patio overlooks a forest of acacia trees, full of fireflies on summer evenings. Access to an open-air stone oven for BBQ in the garden. EQUIPMENT You will find a nice kitchenette, complete with appliances (fridge, microwave, dishwasher) and all you need to prepare breakfast: mocha espresso maker, American coffee maker, French press, kettle, and toaster. There's a desk in the living room. WIFI connection is available all over the apartment and in the patio. The bathroom has a shower with hydromassage jets. Washing machine, hairdryer, iron, linen, and towels: we want you to be sure you'll find anything you'll need at any time of the day. In the patio, you will find a complete garden set, ideal to enjoy, in a panoramic and secluded corner, the sun, and the peace of the Lunigianese forest. BBQ in an open-air stone oven available. BEDS The main bed is a very comfortable queen-size with orthopedic memory foam mattress and there are two single regular beds: one in the antechamber and one in the living room. We provide an umbrella bed on request for 0-5 years old. Linens are provided and changed, upon request, every 7 nights. We live and work upstairs so we are often available for a chat or to share tips and insights. In case of need, if not at home, we are 24/7 reachable by phone. If our guests are willing to, we enjoy having a coffee break together, following rules for social distancing. We chose Lunigiana for its strategic location with easy reach of many of the most beautiful places in Tuscany, Liguria and Emilia Romagna. We are at an hour's drive from the airports of Pisa, Parma, and Genoa and one hour and a half from Florence's. The place is wonderful if you want a romantic getaway to enjoy your free time in total relaxation, but it's also perfect if you're looking for a base for your excursions. In five minutes you can reach the train station of Aulla where you can catch trains that will allow you to comfortably visit the wonderful "Cinque Terre" in as little as 25 minutes. In less than half an hour you can reach Lerici and the Gulf of Poets, or the sandy beaches of Marina di Carrara. In forty minutes you can hit Portovenere in the north-west, Forte Dei Marmi, and the Versilia coast in the south or visit the marble quarries of Carrara, in the south-east. We would advise our guests to reach us by car; finding a free-toll parking spot close-by will never be a problem. Anyway, bus stops are only a few meters from the house or you can catch a taxi from the railway station, which is about 5 km far. Pharmacy, ATMs, newsstands, supermarkets, restaurants, and all services are three kilometers away; it is also available on request a delivery service of groceries/bread/pizza. PRIVATE CONCERTS, COOKING CLASSES, AND SPECIAL ACTIVITIES We can arrange very special activities for our guests. Please ask for more information!