In the middle of green hills, near Lucca, 3 kms from the famous garden of Collodi, 10 kms from Lucca, 12 kms from Montecatini Terme, 30 minutes' drive from Florence and Pisa, more procisely in Gragnano (Lucca), is the tourist complex Country Club. It is a newly built hotel, open all year, and has 88 bedrooms, 8 of which with private sitting room.
See also: Lucca surround charming hills hotel B&B residences booking Lucca Lucca A Jewel of a Tuscan Town around the hills of Lucca
Garfagnana Lucca
Within just a few miles of Lucca and the Versilian coastal resorts can be found landscapes that are so far removed from the traditional image of Tuscany as to make them seem from another country. Sheer, soaring mountain peaks, lush alpine meadows, ski-runs, vast areas of semi-wilderness where wolves are still spotted, great fortresses of mediaeval castles, submerged villages and remote settlements where people live a life, hard and self-sufficient, that seems little changed this century.
The Garfagnana territory rises up from the valley of the river Serchio (Lucca's river). It 'starts' to the north-west of Lucca and rises up to Aulla (the train journey is very scenic). The valley is flanked to the east by the start of the Appennines and to the west by the spur of the Apuan Alps.
To the north west of tuscany can be found an area of outstanding natural beauty, and faultless hospitality: Garfagnana. This area does allow access to the traditional tourist cities of Lucca, Pisa, and - at a push - Florence, but its appeal lies more in its isolation, its lack of tourism and its striking scenery. As such, it works better as a second week destination so you can recover from the strains and stresses of queueing, white-knuckle driving and getting ripped off. For those who want to see a piece of real Italy, traditional, but not stuck in the past, it cannot be beaten.
http://www.welcometuscany.it/tuscany/lucca/garfagnana/garfagnana.htm |
OTHER CHARMING ACCOMMODATIONS AROUND LUCCA HILLSGragnano, Via della Chiesa 36 € 120 per room per night  Relais del lago is a 17th century stone country house carefully restored by the owner to create an agreeable an relaxing place for every season during year. In respect of the traditional materials that built the tuscany cottage, it offers room and suites more details |
