Property Reviews

Reviews of CASA CLARA (5931) Date  03-12-2010 Rating  Name  KAREN COSHOF - Montreal Message  Casa Clara is a large, 4 bedroom, 2 bathroom house in the middle (actually, at the very top) of a tiny north-west Tuscan village called Sillicagnana. It's the kind of village where every house is attached to the next, all built of the same grey stone, with tiny streets too narrow for cars (you park in the Piazza). People are lovely. The house boasts spectacular views from every single window - over the village to the mountains and valley it overlooks. Really spectacular - I kid you not. This house easily would accommodate 8 people, plus an infant (there's a crib in one of the bedrooms). Rooms are large, with ample bedding, towels, etc. All you need. And if you run out - which you won't - there's a laundry room with washer/dryer. The kitchen is very good and well fitted-out. Oh, there's also a dining room. My only quibbles are first, lack of good lighting at night. Only dim overhead fixtures, or tiny bedside lamps that are useless for reading. No problem with food - there's a tiny shop, plus a butcher and local baker. And for other stuff or restaurants, it's only a 20 minute drive to the town of Castelnuovo di Garfagnana, where you can buy anything. Including gelato! Try the wonderful local meats. What to do? Drive to the precipitous town of Barga, the incredible walled city of Lucca, up to San Pellegrino in Alpe (highest town in Apuan Alps), explore the high deserted marble quarries, go hiking, etc., etc. But be warned - driving here is not for the faint of heart. One last thing - the church clock steeple is next door - be prepared for the hourly "bongs" (which we rather liked). All in all, increadible value. Date  03-12-2010 Rating  Name  Sharon & Gary Moore Message  In May of 2010 we lived in Casa Clara for 4wks. It was the best holiday we have ever had. The house was totally comfortable. Our favourite room was the lounge with the floor to ceiling windows & the view. We had all our meals in the kitchen because it was warm & inviting. We live in British Columbia Canada which is beautiful but the Garafanana is equally as beautiful. The house is medieval & is in a medieval hill village. Most everyday we would set our GPS & head out to different destinations-going to Carrara, Luccca, Barga, stopping in all the tiny villages for cappuccinos'. We took advantage of hiking in Orchietta, horseback riding, the Thurs. market in Castlenuova, & the markets in the other towns. There is no restaurant in the village except for Fri-Sun pizza at the local coffee shop/bar but there is the best pasta 5 minutes away at El Grotto in Villetta (we went here every 3rd day because it was addictive. The people of the village were warm & welcoming & when we came home every night there was a smile. an empty chair & an invitation to sit & we spoke no Italian. We soon got used to the church bells & they became part of Italian experience. If one wants an authentic Italian experience this is a wonderful place to experience it. The larger cities such as Lucca is a 45 minute drive away,