View from the garden
This is a medieval village in the area known as Svizzera Pesciatina so called because it resembles Switzerland. The village is peaceful with no access to cars throughout the village but has been kept up to date with modern amenities like restaurants with wi fi, a bar and a small grocery shop. The village is one of 10 similar fortifications perched on top of the surrounding hills, all within a few kilometres of each other.
Facilities in Castelvecchio
Castelvecchio has 3 restaurants, a bar, tennis courts with swimming pool and bar, an ambulance/paramedic station all either in the village or on the outskirts making it ideal for relaxing family holidays.
Bar Marina is about 200m walk from the house and has a bar and general store which has fresh bread delivered every day. They serve drinks, ice cream, snacks and sandwiches and are open every day from about 9 till very late especially in the summer. You can get delicious traditional home cooked meals here by arrangement with the friendly local family who own and run the bar. Food is very reasonably priced.
Interior of the ancient church at Pieve
The restaurant/pizzeria Pieve is about 10 minutes walk from the house, at the top of the village. They serve a range of traditional seasonal dishes which are cooked from old recipes handed down from mother to daughter. There is also the option to have take away pizzas if you prefer to relax in the garden at home with a bottle of wine. The prices are mid range but very reasonable for the quality and quantity of food provided.
The restaurant Da Carla (Laghetto) is situated at the bottom of the hill outside the village, 5 minutes by car or 20 on foot. Again they serve traditional seasonal dishes and pizzas. There is a small fishing lake beside this restaurant, hence the name Laghetto. Prices mid range.
The restaurant Sandrino is close to Laghetto and is a slightly more formal restaurant, again with excellent traditional cooking. It does not serve pizzas. Slightly more expensive than the other restaurants but excellent service and friendly staff.
The streets of Castelvecchio
The village has many historical buildings the most interesting of which are the ancient and recently restored Pieve (old church) at the top of the village and the smaller church in the village where there are ancient murals in the cellars which were discovered recently and available for viewing. For keen walkers there are many interesting walks inside the village and from the village to the other villages situated round about.
Pescia, the nearest town
The village is 12 km (about 7 miles) from the small town of Pescia which has supermarkets, an outdoor market every Saturday morning, bars, restaurants, lots of traditional family run shops and bakeries, butchers, a fish shop and a shop selling hand made pasta. There are also several laundrettes and dry cleaners, chemists - where English is spoken - a dentist, a doctor, a hospital and several vets. There is a bus service between Castelvecchio and Pescia 6 times a day.
The perfect base for a relaxing holiday
Pescia has rail and bus connections to surrounding places of interest, including:
- The ancient village of Collodi where the author of Pinocchio lived and where there is a magnificent villa with ornate traditional Italian gardens, open too the public most of the year.
- Lucca, a walled city with fantastic shops and resturants
- Monticatini Terme, a Spa town with nightclubs, bars, restaurants and spa resorts.
- The city of Pisa, with its famous leaning tower.
- Beaches at Pisa mare and Viareggio.
- The magnificent city of Florence.