Astride a turn in the hillside, known as A Capo, lay a farm with exceptional views (incl. Leaning Tower of Pisa, 12 miles south).

Abandoned, overgrown, collapsed.

Until recently.

A new owner has restored a villa (280 sq m), whose ruins dated back to the 17th century, sparing no expense to use traditional terracotta and chestnut materials.

The result delivers:
- interior design;
- under-floor heating;
- 25mbps satellite internet with wi-fi;
- air-conditioning to local (not US standards);
- infinity pool;
- 4 lavishly appointed double/twin bedrooms (all en-suite); can sleep 6 more (basic);
- large kitchen, dining room, 50sq m living room;
- stunning south-facing panorama over Pisa and Lucca, towards Florence & Siena. 2 terraces shaded by chestnut pergolas.

Accessed by an unmetalled road, the villa is 10 mins to shops + all major Tuscan culture within 2hrs. Quiet and very private.

HOME FOR US
Please note that this is our Tuscan home. We present the villa as such, so, unlike most holiday lets, you will find our possessions there. But we make plenty of room for yours too. We are delighted to share our experience with guests.

POOL
Grassed paths from both patios lead up to the 12x6m infinity swimming pool with stunning views across the plain of Lucca to the Pisan mountains, distant Pisa and (on a clear day) the mountains of Elba (some 100 miles away). The facilities include a children's paddling pool, terracotta patio, paved sun terrace and grassed shaded terrace with sun-loungers, bench, wooden tables and chairs. The pool is protected by fencing (1.2m high), hedges, walls and/or gates.

ESTATE

Enjoy some 25 acres of woodlands, olive grove and disused vineyard, with traditional terracing and pathways.

PETS

We and our cats (who are not meant to live in the house, although some guests apparently invite them in) welcome pet-lovers and your pets.

SAN MACARIO, LUCCA & PUCCINI
San Macario's upper village is distinctive: set in a nature reserve, its bell-tower overlooks a stunningly beautiful part of north-west Tuscany, beneath the Apuan Alps and close to the Garfagnana National Park.
Shops in the lower village include a grocery store, several bakeries and a drive-kms-for-their-meat butcher. Two large supermarkets (Co-op and Conad) are within a further 5 minutes drive.
San Macario is 10 minutes drive from Lucca and 14 miles from Pisa (its famous leaning tower and airport visible in the distance). Direct flights to Pisa from the US (New York - Delta), UK, Ireland and many other European airports. Florence Airport is also easily within an hour.
Pisa is well known, and Lucca is a unique medieval walled city overflowing with history, culture and charm - also Puccini's birthplace. July & August see the open air Puccini Opera Festival at nearby Torre del Lago, close to the fashionable Versilia coast - sunny, sandy beaches served by bars & restaurants aplenty. A must.

TOURS & COURSES
We can also include limousine service, cultural tours, cooking/ art/ photography/ film courses.

DEPOSIT AND PAYMENT
A deposit of 25% of the rent is required to secure your booking.
The balance is payable 8 weeks before your arrival date. A security deposit of £1,000 or 25% of the rent, if greater, is also due 8 weeks prior to the arrival date. If a booking is made less than 8 weeks before the arrival date, 100% plus the security deposit is required to secure the booking.
If you cancel, or fail to pay the balance by the due date, all amounts paid to secure the booking are forfeit, and only the damages deposit will be returned. Security deposits, less any deductions (including expenses) are returnable after the departure date.
Breakages will be recharged on a replacement as new cost basis.
All bank charges are recharged to the account of the tenant at cost.

TRAVEL INSURANCE
It is a requirement of our Standard Terms & Conditions that guests take out travel suitable insurance policies, including sufficient cover to enable them to recover non-refundable payments made to us. This is for your own protection and ours. Thank you.

CONTRACT
Subject to contract .

EXTRAS
Our prices are inclusive of all expenses (with an electricity allowance of €100pw). Guests have the right to ask to read meters with us, in the absence of which our staff's readings will be final. Use of the a/c is likely to mean that you will significantly exceed your €100 per week allowance; the same is likely if you are a large group. By confirming your reservation with us you authorise us to deduct the excess electricity costs (@ €35.5 cents per unit, plus 60.1 cents per day) from your security deposit with VRBO.

We will also deduct other extras from the Security Deposit, including shopping and home cooking charges, if not paid to us in cash during your stay.

In addition to the Cleaning Fee and Linen Fee charged by VRBO we require a cash payment Setup Fee of €500 per week (or part thereof) per stay to be paid direct to our staff on arrival.

LARGER GROUPS

There are additional per head per night charges for larger groups, which are included in your quote from HomeAway. These reflect additional staff and admin costs with larger groups and are based on the number of different people who stay overnight at the villa during the course of your stay. If, during your stay, more different people than stated during the reservation process stay overnight, we will charge you for the additional amount, by deduction from the security deposit.

‘CLEANING & LINEN FEES’ ARE NOT FOR CLEANING & LINEN
The Cleaning and Linen Fees are part of the rent, and not for cleaning. Because of the restrictions of VRBO's system, this is the only way we can set prices that economically justify our being able to offer very short and longer stays and weekly stays off the same platform (these fees effectively making the nightly charge for very short stays higher than for longer stays). We require guests to leave the Property tidy (this includes, as a minimum, leaving everything back where it was at check-in, and all rubbish/recycling taken away on departure, as required by our T&Cs).

VALUE
Even with these extras at low rents, our properties offer incredible value, compared to similarly priced alternatives.

NO STAGS OR HENS
Please note that we do not accept hen or stag parties, nor will we contract with a person under 25.

FULLY SERVICED BASIS
Fully serviced, all-in, including half/full board with top quality cuisine and daily/live-in maid services, from €7,500pw, depending on the number of people staying in the house and the details of the service you would like us to provide.

LONGER LETS
Reductions for lets longer than 6 weeks.

OUR PRIVATE WEBSITE
More details, photos and a video, including a detailed specification of the property. Please ask us for the url, which are not permitted to publish here, but can be found if you google mystays and end it with the thing one hits a tennis ball over.

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