Casa Martinelli - 2 bedroom, private pool, fabulous views, 5KM to Pistoia

Perfect!

Reviewed on 09/17/2020

Kim W

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We have had a fantastic holiday. For us the first time rented a house instead of camping. We enjoyed . First all the reception. We were picked up in the village (the road to the house needed some practice, narrow road. But you get used to it. Then a warm welcome with local drink, food, olive oil, etc. House was perfect. Nice and cool, but if desired there is air conditioning on the room. View was fantastic, eat every day on your terrace with this view then you have less need to eat out. Nice bbq and private garden was also perfect. We also enjoyed the lovely pool. This makes the house complete! Practical, supermarket 10 minutes drive. Fresh bread is therefore not to get in the morning walk. That is why we bought bake-off bread for the oven. In short: super house, beautiful view, lovely pool and lovely people. I definitely recommend it to everyone .

Top Lage und hohe Gastfreundlichkeit

Reviewed on 08/25/2020

Stefan Bachmann

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Das Haus ist sehr sauber und hat alles was man so Benötigt. Waschmaschine, Toster usw. Vielen Dank für die schöne Zeit. Die Familie ist sehr herzlich und hilfsbereit. Kleine Geschenke gab es bei der Ankunft auch noch.

A gem of a space!

Reviewed on 02/07/2020

Joan Campbell

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My husband and I spent over a week at this beautiful property nestled in the hills of Pistoia. Our hosts, Beatrice, Stefano and Michael were absolutely wonderful. We were greeted with warmth and a variety of gifts from olive oil to some desserts. We loved our stay here and would highly recommend this home. There is a spiral staircase that leads to the bedroom and bathroom, so if accessibility is a concern this may not be the option for you, but if accessibility is not a concern, this is an absolute gem.

La dolce vita near Firenze!

Reviewed on 10/30/2019

Laurent Brisebois

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The apartment exceeded our expectations : the view overlooking the city of Pistoia and the valley below was wonderful, the hosts were charming and generous, and the private pool was a cherished advantage. Everything was super clean. We recommend it to anyone who wants a real taste of Tuscany.

Perfect for our small family

Reviewed on 08/28/2019

Gillian Campbell

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We have just returned from a lovely two week stay at Villa Martinelli. The house is perfect for a family of three - small but perfectly adequate as you are likely to spend most of your time outdoors! The pool is fabulous and well maintained. The extensive terrace with beautiful views over Pistoia is great as there are places which are in shade at different time of the day. The house was clean and well maintained and there is air conditioning upstairs which was excellent. A real bonus was the lovely owners - not only did they keep us stocked up with delicious zucchine from the their garden, but they were very responsive if we had any queries about the house or the area. We had a great time and would thoroughly recommend staying at Villa Martinelli if you’re looking for a relaxing, away from it all break or a base for exploring northern Tuscany. Thank you to Beatrice, Stefano and Michele for your hospitality.

Reviewed on 07/10/2019

friendsoftuscany

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Great home for 2 people. Welcoming reception, beautiful view and wonderful swimming pool. Nice to start a vacation in Italy in a place to really rest and discover Tuscany at the same time.

Reviewed on 06/25/2019

friendsoftuscany

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Beatrice, Stefano and Michele were the most outstanding hosts! Their villa Martonelli is gorgeous, comfortable and close to everything! We were greeted and escorted up to villa where fresh cola bottle of water, home made olive oil and two bottles of home made wine were waiting for us! Such gracious hosts and beautiful paridise! Pool and views and accommodations GREAT! Will definitely come again ! Located near train station so can take day trips to Florence, Pisa, Luca! Extraordinary relaxing experience!

Lovely and quiet cottage with beautiful views and swimming pool

Reviewed on 08/08/2018

friendsoftuscany

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Owners Beatrice and Stefano are super-friendly and hospitable. They live next to the part of the house what they rent out but ensure that you have all the privacy you want. They let us enjoy the delicious olive oil from our own olive grove and the delicious tomatoes, aubergines, courgettes and prunes from our own garden. The cottage is equipped with everything you need. Only the narrow spiral staircase to the bedrooms is somewhat awkward. The air conditioning on the upper floor you can rent extra (€ 50, - for a week). The cottage is located on Via dei Ciatti in Valdibrana north of Pistoia. Within 10 minutes you are in the center of this beautiful Tuscan city that is not yet overrun by tourists.

Don't hesitate - book!

Reviewed on 09/03/2017

Jane Summers

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We'd highly recommend this property. The location is convenient - a short distance from Pistoia - and the house is set amongst olive trees with terrific views down the valley. It was very peaceful and we were made very welcome by Beatrice and Stefano who regularly left us 'gifts' of eggs, biscuits and olive oil - Stefano makes his own and has won prizes. We were there during a heat wave and Beatrice responded quickly to our concerns about sleepless nights by buying additional fans for the bedrooms. The family were superb hosts, allowing us privacy but always there if we needed something. With temperatures in the high 30s, we needed the swimming pool and made good use of it. This is a beautiful part of Tuscany and we had days out in the mountains as well as Pisa, Lucca and Pistoia itself, Italy's city of culture for 2017. Florence is not far and trains run from Pistoia. We had a delightful holiday.

Very comfortable and clean

Reviewed on 08/21/2017

Marisa

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A wonderful wonderful holiday. I would like to book to return next year!

Hartverwarmende ontvangst en fantastisch uitzicht!

Reviewed on 07/29/2017

Eric Lintermans

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We stayed with 3 adults 2 weeks in the house of Beatrice and Stefano. The reception was very warm and they were always contactable with their son Michele. We were severely spoiled in a discreet manner. In the middle of the olive groves and with a very beautiful panorama of the terrace we found the peace we were looking for. Casa Martinelli belongs to a hamlet in the Valdibrana hills, it seemed like the decor of a romantic film. The cottage was very nice and is well situated for a nice getaway. Only on the stairs we had to get used to it (to be advised with a small child). Because we already knew the beautiful cities in the area, we drove out to drive to Cinque Terre and finish this stunning sunset outing on the terrace of a waterfront restaurant in Portovenere. In the vicinity we especially visited the cute villages, but enjoy and next to the nice swimming pool was equally good at the program. The bells of the churches close by made the picture complete. We will never forget Stefano, Beatrice and Michele and hope to enjoy all their spoilings once again. Rarely received so well!

Fantastic Location – A Slice of Tuscan Fried Gold!

Reviewed on 09/28/2016

Christopher

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Sitting in the hills above Pistoia, Villa Martinelli is an excellent base for exploring the local area and beyond. Split across two floors, the Villa has an open plan kitchen, dining and sitting area with double doors providing access to the outside terrace dining area. The kitchen is well equipped and met all our needs for the 2 weeks of our stay. The only access to the upper floor is via a narrow metal spiral staircase that may prove a challenge for anyone with mobility issues. The main bedroom is spacious and there is plenty of storage space in the smaller second bedroom. The pool is fabulous and a real asset to the property even if it does fall into the category of “lovely once you are in” as it can feel a bit chilly after you have baked in the Tuscan sunshine for a while. Stefano, Beatrice and their family are truly lovely people, on hand to help out if necessary but conscious of the privacy of their guests. Generous to a fault, you could not ask for nicer neighbours. A car is a must (make sure the horn works!) but be aware some local roads are steep, very narrow and some with blind turns, including the road leading to the Villa. For peace of mind, it is worth considering taking out additional damage insurance for your hire car but arrange this before you travel rather than taking the unnecessarily expensive ‘excess reduction’ insurances offered by the car hire companies. Pistoia is a lovely old town, well worth a sightseeing trip or two in itself. It has plenty of shops, cafes, gelateria etc. Of the local supermarkets we think that the Co-Op and the Conad Superstore are the best. Pistoia is on the main rail line between Pisa and Florence which makes it ideal for exploring near and far. You can get to Florence in 30 – 50 minutes and Pisa in about the same amount of time. Should you wish, you can get to Venice or Rome in 2 – 3 hours. There is ample parking in Pistoia and the car park nearest to the station (Parcheggio Cavallotti) only costs 2 euro all day. Other than to get some shopping in you wouldn’t really need to leave the Villa if you didn’t want to, spending days by the pool, watching the birds of prey as they ride the thermals off the hills, distant church bells cascading around the valley marking time that has slowed to a snail’s pace, evenings spent sitting on the terrace listening to the local stag population bellowing in the forest as the lights of Pistoia twinkle in the distance. Did we have a great holiday? You bet.

great pool' good location and fantastic views.

Reviewed on 08/29/2016

Anonymous

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We had a lovely week at this Villa. The pool, the views, the owners and the location contributed to a happy holiday for our family. Stefano and Beatrice were great hosts - very generous and very discreet. As in other reviews we would agree the villa is functional and basic. If weather was really hot then the lack of a fan or air-con may be an issue however it was slightly cooler than normal when we stayed so we didn't mind too much. The views of the surrounding area are just gorgeous and having our meals on the terrace over the pool was just what we wanted from this holiday. We were easily able to visit Florence, Lucca and Montetacini, and the journey from Pisa was swift. Although directions sent were a bit vague - so you'll need google maps or sat-nav. Over-all this is a gem - a great taste of Italy off the beaten track.

Charming apartment in the Tuscan hills

Reviewed on 07/31/2016

Stephen Y.

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We stayed at Villa Martinelli, Valdibrana, in July 2016. The description of the facilities is good, and customer communication is excellent. We had to slightly amend our booking shortly after placing it, and this was achieved with a minimum of fuss and bother. We were well looked after by our hosts. The apartment was clean and smart, and the swimming pool, for the sole use of the guests, was wonderful. Day trips to Florence (by train), Lucca (by car) and into nearby Pistoia itself, were interspersed with pool days to create a really relaxing week in Tuscany. If you want to visit the area but not stay in the big cities, this is a great place to base yourself. Very happy with the facilities and service provided. Thank you!

This property has a wonderful relaxing feel to it!

Reviewed on 07/26/2016

Carey F

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The Villa itself is set in a perfect location up in the hills above Pistoia. The best part of it is its terrace, where you can spend lazy mornings at breakfast overlooking your pool and the outstanding views down to the village. Simple but comfortable, Villa Martinelli is the ideal place to unwind and enjoy the surrounding Tuscan villages at leisure. The hosts, Beatrice and Stefano could not have been more accommodating - they respect your complete privacy but are on hand to give advice on local restaurants etc. Stefano even supplied us with his home grown veggies to sample one evening. Highly recommend this Villa for a quiet spot away from tourists. Don't miss the local Il Frantoio restaurant for the best pizza!

A wonderful rural retreat well situated for exploring the main sights of Tuscany

Reviewed on 07/01/2016

Julian

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Villa Martinelli is in the village of Valdebrana and being half way up the (steep) hill of the village it commands breath-taking and uninterrupted views of the adjacent hillside and a panorama down to Pistoia. The villa is a self contained two storey apartment attached to the owners house. To reach the bedroom/s and bathroom upstairs, you need to be able to climb a narrow, metal spiral staircase. The villa is beautifully clean and well maintained and contains all the equipment needed. I would however agree with previous reviews that some extra cutlery and cups/mugs would save the need to wash up ! There is a lovely covered terrace just outside the kitchen on which to enjoy shady meals, and the choice of two other eating areas nearer to the pool. There is no shortage of chairs and sunbeds on which to relax and enjoy the view in either the sun or shade. The pool is accessed down two flights of steps and is of good size and well maintained. Beartice and Stefano, the owners, are very friendly and welcoming. Nothing is too much trouble for them and they are on hand for advice about sightseeing, travel and even pizza making in their bread oven - which you definitely shouldn't attempt without Stefano's assistance ! The BBQ however is much easier to use, and although in their garden, visitors can use it whenever they wish. Whilst there are no shops in Valdebrana, Pistoia is very near for all catering needs and there is a restaurant in the village. We definitely recommend using the train (nearest station Pistoia), reasonably priced and regular service. Florence is the obvious must do, but we also recommend Lucca, Montecatini Terme, San Gimignano, Volterra and the coast north from Viareggio. We have fallen in love with this area of Tuscany and love this Villa, we have many things remaining on our "to see" list, so we intend to return and hope to stay here again.

June 2016 Debbie and Denise

Reviewed on 06/20/2016

Deborah

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Our villa was brilliant, although basic inside it was very clean and welcoming, as for the outside the grounds and views were amazing it was so relaxing we didn't want to leave. Having the swimming pool was great , just a bit cold, we would go later in the year another time. Our hosts were fantastic, they couldn't do enough for us a lovely family. You do really need a car as its too far into Pistoia to walk although we did do it once. The trains from Pistoia are a great service we used them a lot, went to Luca for shopping and Florence both had wonderful shops and amazing buildings, we preferred Luca, could have done with more time to do site seeing.The restaurant in our village was fantastic, food beautiful, staff friendly and welcoming.

Perfect holiday

Reviewed on 09/07/2015

Elspeth L.

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We had a wonderful fortnight at Villa Martinelli. We travelled with our 10-month-old son and were greeted as if we were old friends. A cot and high chair were provided, and the owners made everything so easy for us being there with a little one. It really was a wonderful destination if travelling with a baby. The swimming pool was kept beautifully clean and views from the terrace were stunning. We had lovely day trips to Lucca, Pisa and Florence, and enjoyed exploring local Pistoia. We would highly recommend a holiday here!

Reviewed on 08/07/2015

June Eastwood

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We had a fabulous holiday in this very peaceful place. Stefano and Beatrice were friendly, discreet hosts. We have become experts in olive oil. Delicious! Most afternoons we just lay by the pool, and some evenings we would go downtown to beautiful Pistoia ( great market on Wednesdays ), or just visit a local restaurant in the village. We found it easy to get around from this location, and we visited Florence twice as the train only takes 20 minutes, and we also went to the beach at Viareggio and watched an opera in Lucca. June Eastwood, St. Margarets, London

Absolutely beautiful!

Reviewed on 05/07/2015

Anonymous

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We had a fabulous holiday at Casa martinelli - our hosts were very welcoming - quite lovely people - our apartment was beautiful - very clean and well equipped - and there were stunning views over the lovely pool to the Tuscan countryside. Plenty of sitting out areas on the terrace in the sun and shade. Very quiet location. Car is essential. Pistona, the nearby town is lovely (very few tourists ;) but still well worth visiting). we visited Lucca - very beautiful but packed with tourists - it was July!... We had a fantastic week and would highly recommend Casa martinelli.