Charming Riverside Apartment, 10 min from the sea

Large, charming riverside attic with sloping ceilings and wood burning stove in Badalucco, Riviera dei Fiori, Liguria, Italy. Fantastic views from the living room and balcony over the Argentina river and the surrounding olive grove-terraced hills. NUMERO CITRA 008006-LT-0033 My apartment, situated on top of a three storey building is 110 sqm in size and is therefore very spacious. Olive wood parquet flooring, fitted kitchen, 2 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms with shower, large living room, TV lounge, work space and reading area. It is equipped with 40'' TV, media player with a wide collection of movies, DVD player, music system, washing machine, hairdryer, WI-FI. The place is perfect for a family (however I would not recommend it for really small children), a small party of friends or couples wishing to get away from it all: the river view and wood burning stove make a perfect backdrop to romantic weekends away. It has 2 balconies: one ideal for al fresco dining during the balmy summer Mediterranean evenings - it is furnished with an outdoor table, 4 chairs and a barbecue; the second smaller balcony overlooks the river, allowing for relaxation and people watching while listening to the river running and sipping on an aperitivo or a nice glass of locally produced wine. Free parking is available by the sports field, situated on the other side of the bridge opposite the house (about 50 metres away). +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ PLEASE TAKE NOTE: Our minimum stay is 3 nights during the year but during PEAK SEASON (30th July to 5th September 2021) we require a MINIMUM stay of 7 nights. The published price per night is for 4 people only, any additional guest for up to 6 people in total will be charged an extra Euro 10 per night. Extra guests will be accommodated on the sofa bed in the TV lounge (it has a memory foam mattress and is therefore very comfortable). ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ The village of Badalucco has a small supermarket, 2 butcheries, 2 bakeries, 2 hairdressers and a barber shop, a deli, an art gallery, a wine bar, 3 other bars (one of them with a patisserie and artisanal ice-creamery section). There are 4 restaurant and 1 pizzerias proposing excellent local cuisine and a couple of olive mills (frantoi): these are open to the public and sell superb genuine local produce. As a bonus sporting activities such as mountain biking, tennis, petanque, hiking and river swimming can be practiced around here too! Guests have access to the whole apartment and the balconies. The back balcony has a table, four chairs and a barbecue for outdoor dining. As travellers ourselves, my husband and I love meeting people. However, we understand that some people prefer to have their own privacy while on holiday. We can offer guided mountain excursions with expert guides: flora and fauna, bird watching, stargazing. Prices on request. Depending on dates and availability we might be able to book horse riding trips or streambed trekking in the river. ****ITALIAN FOR BEGINNERS**** As a language teacher I can offer crash courses of Italian for beginners, depending on the length of your stay. Please ask for further info. Badalucco is the largest centre in Valle Argentina, a beautiful unspoiled area of North Western Italy, famous for its production of excellent olive oil sourced from the "Taggiasca" olive variety. Here you will find the real Liguria: luxuriant vegetation, vineyards, ancient olive groves and medieval villages perched on hills which propose an authentic and interesting diversion from the beaches of the buzzing coastal towns situated 10 minutes' drive away. In Badalucco, you will find tranquility, great local cuisine and friendly people. Badalucco's attractions and charm do not end in summer, autumn is great for mushroom and chestnut picking and during this season the woods of our surrounding hills are covered in the most beautiful yellow, red and brown hues, great for photography. Late spring - early summer is perfect for whale watching trips from Sanremo or Imperia. In spring you will find our beautiful vegetation in full bloom so hiking and mountain biking are at their best. We have books and maps on the best hiking routes in the area. EVENTS: The most important yearly events in the area are: "INVITO AL VINO" Badalucco, August 14th and 15th each year. A two day wine festival where one is able to taste some of the best wines from all Italian regions, accompanied by good food, music and a very festive atmosphere. It is one of the most attended events in the Riviera dei Fiori. It takes place in Badalucco. "SULLE ORME DI SAN BENEDETTO" Taggia, August 24th 2019 A festival based on Taggia's historical past and celebrating Benedict, patron saint of the town. Live Music with traditional cuisine on the streets, fireworks, reenactment of a famous battle, theatre shows and a religious procession. "FESTIVAL DELLO STOCCAFISSO" Badalucco, 15th September 2019. The Stockfish festival is a culinary feast which celebrates one of the most ancient local culinary recipes transmitted from generation to generation. The festival attracts gourmands far and wide. It takes place in Badalucco on the second Sunday of September each year. HALLOWEEN in Triora. The original "Village of the Witches" celebrates Halloween on October 31st in style. On this occasion the village honors of a group of unfortunate local females who were tried for witchery during the Inquisition era then tortured and killed. Triora houses a museum which tells the story in more details. SAN BENEDETTO's day in Taggia takes place on the evening of February 12th. It is a unique and very festive traditional occasion celebrating St Benedict, patron of the town. Benedict, during medieval times cleverly managed to save Taggia from a Saracene's siege by placing huge bonfires around the city squares. The pirates upon seeing smoke and huge flames from the seashore believed the place was already under attack and fled. On this occasion, fireworks, bonfires, music and dancing revellers create a party atmosphere around Taggia's streets throughout the night. MILANO - SANREMO. The classic cycling competition takes place at the beginning of March each year. Although Badalucco can be reached by public transport - buses can be picked up at Taggia Arma railway station - I recommend that you come by car. The bus service is comfortable but sporadic. A car would allow you the freedom to visit the beaches at your pleasure and to discover the other villages of our awesome valley. The Argentina Valley stretches all the way up to Realdo, situated 1010 m above sea level. The higher part of the valley is a real paradise for lovers of outdoor activities such as free climbing, canyoning, bird watching, star gazing and photography. The river offers natural little basins carved among the rocks, often hidden and secluded, which are a magnificent environment for fresh water swimming. The Castellaro Golf Club, situated about 10 Km away, is open all year round. From here the French Riviera with Nice, Cannes, Antibes is also within easy reach. If you fancy driving a bit further on the A10 Motorway you can reach the famous Cinque Terre villages within 2 and a half hours. By car: Milan - 3 hours (279 km) Nice International airport - 1 hour (80 Km) Principality of Monaco - 45 mins (45 km) Sanremo - 20 mins. (20 km) Taggia Arma - Train station and beaches - 15 min (10km) Genova - 1 and a half hours (150 kms) Cinque Terre - 2 and a half hours Florence - 4 hoursAs ***WHEN TO VISIT*** As an alternative to busy city life, Badalucco is great all year round but it is at its best during our summer months, (July, August and September) when people come together to enjoy food, drink and the cool waters of the Argentina river. ****FRESH LOCAL PRODUCE**** We can provide organic vegetables freshly picked from my brother's farm (zero carbon footprint!) Each box contains an assortment of seasonal produce such as aubergines, courgettes, green beans, peppers, tomatoes (prices and produce vary according to availability and seasonality). Delivery is on Mondays and Thursdays. Absolutely tasty and highly recommended if you seek an authentic experience in our valley! Please ask for price and further info.