Notes from the host
Villa Ponderosa On a lake
Description:
The idyllic holiday home Villa Ponderosa is located in the quiet agricultural area of the municipality of Bagno di Gavorrano, 8km from Follonica and the sea. The location on a hill offers a beautiful view of the plain of Follonica, the Tyrrhenian Sea and Elba Island in the background.
Dating back to the 70's, the house was completely renovated in 2018/19. It is located in the heart of the 32-hectare Monte Cerretelle farm, where olive oil is produced in advance and suckler cows are fed on pasture. One third of the area is covered by macchia, the typical Mediterranean mixed forest.
The house itself has 100 m2 of floor space, two spacious bedrooms with private terraces, a beautiful bathroom with natural light and a spacious kitchen. In front of the kitchen is a 30 m2 covered terrace overlooking the sea and the island of Elba. There is also an outside toilet with shower. The whole house is equipped with air conditioning.
The house is surrounded by olive groves and large, shady trees and is located in a 2000 m2 meadow.
Monte Cerretelle can be easily reached by car via a 1 km long, maintained natural road. Ample parking is available.
There are still two agricultural buildings on the farm. The holiday home itself is very quiet, the nearest neighbors are just over 500 meters away.
It is only 2-3 km to the motorway and the nearest shops and restaurants. And the best beaches of the Maremma and a beautiful lake are easily reached in 10-20 minutes by car.
The location of the house is ideal for excursions to the most beautiful places of Tuscany:
• Pisa, Lucca or Florence in the north, Volterra, San Giminiano and Siena in the
Center or Massa Maritima, Castiglione della Pescaia and Orbetello / St. Stefano in the south are all in a maximum of 1-1. 5 hours to reach.
• Interesting are the archaeological excavations of the area, with beautiful artifacts of the Etruscans (eg in Roselle or Vetulonia) and the Romans (eg the old ruined city of Cosa), or the Museo delle Miniere in Gavorrano, which has over 3000 years of history of metallurgy in the Maremma traces.
• For nature lovers, the Parco Regionale della Maremma in Alberese is on the doorstep, which can be explored on foot, on horseback or on a bicycle. A little further away is the Monte Amiata, the highest mountain and the most important water reservoir of Tuscany or Saturnia with its famous thermal springs.
• Of course there are the sea for athletes, but biking and hiking are also popular, with many interesting tour suggestions on the Internet. And horse enthusiasts will find various horse farms offering riding lessons and tours. Right on the doorstep is the Pelagone Golf Course, a little further from Punta Ala. And in Follonica the Aquatic Fun Village is waiting
• For art lovers, there are museums and historic buildings with all their treasures. Or you can visit the colorful Parco dei Tarocchi in Pescia Fiorentina near Capalbio, built by Nikki St. Phalle and Jean Tinguely was designed and is suitable for children through its "walk-in art".
• Or you can just enjoy the tranquility of Monte Cerretelle with a glass of local wine and devote yourself to a book that you have been wanting to read for a long time.
details:
Bedroom 1: The 18 m2 bedroom is furnished with two sliding single beds, wardrobe, chest of drawers and a quiet terrace.
Bedroom 2: The 20 m2 bedroom is furnished with a double bed (160X200 cm), a pull-out bed for 1 or 2 people and a wardrobe. Own covered terrace.
Daylight bathroom: large shower, washbasin, WC and washing machine; Clothes horse and iron with board; Towel.
Outdoor bathroom: large shower, toilet. Only intended for the warm season
Eat-in kitchen: High-quality, complete kitchen with 4-Plattenkochfeld and oven, pans and sheets, large fridge with freezer, washing machine, espresso machine for Bialettikapseln, filter coffee machine, kettle, blender, toaster, microwave and all necessary cooking utensils, crockery and cutlery for 6 people in duplicate Execution, hand and dish towels, cleaning utensils. Big dining table for 8-10 people. The living area has a large fireplace (wood available), two sofas, TV with international channels.
Terrace: The covered terrace in front of the house overlooking the sea and the island of Elba is equipped to eat or relax outside.
Internet: The house has Wi-Fi in all rooms as well as on the terrace,
Air conditioning: The whole house is air conditioned (cooling and heating).
Garden: In the garden is a charcoal grill available.
Smoking: Smoking in the house is not allowed.
Pets: Pets (dogs and cats) up to a maximum of two are allowed, but with regard to allergy sufferers not in the bedrooms, and a fee of EUR 20.- per animal per week for the additional cleaning and the request to remove legacies.
Farm: If you are interested, you are allowed to go on a discovery tour throughout the farm with its woods, meadows and olives, but at your own risk. Please keep yourself and your children away from machines and animals so as not to expose yourself to unnecessary hazards.
conditions:
Prices: Our weekly prices are from Saturday (arrival in the afternoon) to Saturday (departure in the morning) and are «all inclusive», ie. House, duvet covers, kitchen towels, electricity and firewood are included in the rent. For hygienic reasons, we do not provide bath towels and ask you to bring them yourself. The only additional costs are the fees of EUR 80.- for the final cleaning and additional fees for any pets, which are payable in cash upon departure.
For a duration of less than one week, please contact us directly.
Surroundings:
Nearest places: Supermarkets, bars and restaurants are nearby, eg Bagno di Gavorrano (3 km), Scarlino Scalo (4 km) or Follonica (8 km)
Highway: The motorway exit for the Aurelia (SS1 / E 80) is 2 km away (exit Bagno di Gavorrano)
Ferry to Elba: The ferry to Elba leaves Piombino (20 km)
Beaches: The most beautiful beaches of the Maremma are all 15-30 minutes away by car. Most beaches have parking facilities (approx. EUR 5.- per day) as well as the possibility to rent umbrellas (not obligatory) as well as to buy little things. Do not forget that the entire Maremma coast is under protection and should not be built near the shore. On the one hand, this makes the coast so unique, but therefore there are not all the infrastructures everywhere. Typically, one goes on foot through the coastal forest to the sea, from 100-200 m, for example, in Follonica, up to 2 km on the Cala Violina. The best times at the sea are early in the morning (nice and fresh, less people, parking) or from mid-afternoon (not so hot, many go home).
Lago d'Accesa: The Lago d'Accesa is a wonderfully clear karst lake with pleasantly cool fresh water, even in the hottest summer. The best way to drive at the western end of La Pesta at the small church on the gravel road, where you find a parking lot after 500 m at the edge of the forest. From there it is only a few steps to the lake.
Nearby places:
Follonica: A typical Italian town with a nice Lungo Mare, where in the summer always something (jugglers, stalls, roundabout, etc.), with nice restaurants right on the sea. There are also two supermarkets (PAM and COOP)
Punta Ala: A somewhat synthetic place for upscale tourism, with a golf course and a large marina
Castiglione della Pescaia: Beautiful medieval town with many restaurants and bars, nice to stroll around and always worth a visit
Massa Maritima: Very nice, authentic renaissance town with castle, worth a visit and where to eat well.
Montemassi: Beautifully situated medieval hill town with good views over the plain of Grosseto, for example for a romantic dinner
Places in the wider area:
Virtually all of Tuscany with all its famous cities and landmarks is within walking distance, for example Pisa or Florence (1.5h), San Gimigniano, Siena, Montalcino (1h), Pitigliano, Scanzano, Saturnia, Santo Stefano (1-1.5h )
The island of Elba is easily reachable by ferry from Piombino. For a day trip to the capital Portoferraio you do not need a car, the ferry lands directly in the old port of the city.
Various ferries also travel to other islands, such as Giglio, Capraia or even Corsica and Sardinia
From Follonica there are direct and easy train connections to Roma Termini, travel time 2-3 hours depending on the train
The nearest airport is in Pisa, just over an hour away. It's a little further after Roma Fiumincino.
