BORGO PUCCINI
Celle dei Puccini, Lucca, Tuscany

SMALL ESTATE OF FOUR RESTORED HOMES
Including One Luxury Home and Three Charming Holiday Cottages

Borgo della Madonnina is a hamlet of an historic farmhouse and three cottages situated in a beautiful, wooded valley in the hills above Lucca, at the start of the Garfagnana National Park. The houses date from the mid 1700s and have many original features, including exposed stone walls and original ceilings with chestnut beams and cotto tiles. The property is set in three and a half hectares of pine and chestnut wood, with over 100 abundant olive trees and other fruit trees, with beautiful views over the valley. The small swimming pool and its sun terrace seem to hover over the trees - ideal for lounging in the Tuscan sunshine.

CASA GRANDE

(240 square metres)

Originally built in 1743, the substantial farmhouse was completely restored in 2004. Previous to this the house had no floors, doors or windows. As far as possible, the original beams were restored and the restoration work completed with new chestnut beams and handmade terracotta tiles in the traditional manner. A new, handmade wrought iron and chestnut staircase was added. The work was completed with handmade, chestnut windows and doors.

On the ground floor are the kitchen, dining room and utility / shower room. The large, eat-in kitchen has a SMEG cooking range, as well as lower kitchen units in dark grey and the upper units in white, complementing the original stone walls. Large wrought iron and glass doors exit to the rear terraces and provide light into the kitchen. The dining room has a high ceiling with chestnut beams and terracotta tiles. Atmosphere is created by the original stone walls and a large rock that is part of the foundation of the house. The large utility room has a shower, WC and bidet, with plenty of room for washing and drying machines.

A sweeping iron and chestnut staircase leads to the first floor, which at present is arranged as a suite of three sitting rooms, providing a wonderful entertaining space. Each of the rooms has ceilings of chestnut beams and terracotta tiles, as well as original shelving alcoves built into the wall. The Sitting Room has a large, working fireplace and double doors leading to the marble paved courtyard. The Summer Room, open to the staircase, has double aspect views across the valley, making it light and airy in the summer. The Winter Room has another large fireplace and an iron wood burning stove. A door leads from this room onto a small, raised terrace that gives wonderful views across the valley.

The staircase continues to the third floor, which at present is arranged as two bedrooms and a large bathroom. The Master Bedroom is very large, with double aspect windows and a mass of original beams. The Guest Bedroom also has double aspect windows and original beams.

The large Bathroom has been designed to the highest standards. It is tiled in travertine stone and has a large shower, well over two metres high. There is also a ‘slipper’ bath with claw feet, which sits at an angle to the window, allowing a wonderful view up the valley from the bath. There is also a WC and bidet from Pozzi Ginori, in white china.

Beneath the farmhouse is a small laundry room for use by guests in the three cottages. This has separate, independent access from the farmhouse.

COTTAGES
La Roccia 90 square metres
La Stalla 60 square metres
Il Forno 60 square metres

The property has been successfully run as a holiday lettings business for the past ten years and could very easily continue in this way, or be used as a unique private family estate.