La Casa Padronale del Poggiolo in Codiponte, Italy

Description from the owner

La Casa Padronale is an 800 year old farm house built at the foot of Codiponte's Medieval castle in the little known corner of Tuscany called the Lunigiana. The house originally had the living quarters on the top floor, now called L'Appartamento Azzurro because of its soft-blue wall color, with the hay barns & storage rooms for wine-making on the ground floor and the animal stalls below that. Many years ago, the facade & interior spaces of the main house were altered with the probable idea of enlarging Il Poggiolo as a "casa padronale". Instead, another part of the compound, La Casetta, and attached to Il Poggiolo at the entrance archway, was... built in the Medici-style in the late 1600s to be the main residence. La Casa Padronale was then left as it was until entirely renovated starting in 2009. Today, the house still maintains the original separation of top & ground floors but, is now, finally, a "casa padronale"...

the ground floor is the main part of the house with an Entrance Loggia off the Courtyard, a large Living Room with two single beds-sofas, a Dining Room, a complete Kitchen plus a Laundry Room & Bath below that. The top floor has its own separate entrance reached by a ramp leading from the Courtyard and is an open-space apartment, called L'Appartamento Azzurro. The apartment serves as the sleeping quarters for La Casa Padronale. The large room is a living & dining area with a service kitchen and a fireplace. Above is a sleeping loft with two single-beds reached by a ladder. Off a short corridor are the Master Bedroom with an antique double-bed and the bathroom. Outside the bedroom is a terrace with lovely views of the village and the hills beyond covered with chestnut & olive groves. The ground floor rooms are painted in strong, decisive colors: a Han Blue for the LR & DR and an Acid Yellow-green for the Kitchen. The entire house is decorated with an eclectic mix of period antiques, flee-market finds and the new, from the furniture, the furnishings to the artwork. The house was designed to be a sophisticated, yet intimate & relaxing retreat for our guests.

La Casa Grande is surrounded by a 2,000 square meter garden of grassy terraces full of fruit trees, crepe myrtle and flowering bushes. There is even a fish pond! The garden may be accessed either through the old stalls off the passageway to/from the Courtyard or by taking the grassy ramp from the Courtyard to L'Appartamento Azzurro.. Naturally, the Courtyard & Loggia & the apartment's terrace off the bedroom above are all available to the guests of La Casa Padronale.

La Casa Padronale's main access is from the Medieval bridge coming from the SS445 state road. Cross the bridge... Codiponte is the local dialect for "at the head of the bridge. It was the only spot to ford the Aulella River until the 20th Century!... and immediately after entering into the village there are a series of stepped ramps to the left leading up to the entrance archway of Il Poggiolo. Under this archway, again to the left, is a passageway past a gate leading up to the Courtyard. The preferable entrance door to the main house is at the Loggia. Again, to arrive at the sleeping apartment above, there is a grassy ramp after the Courtyard passing some stone buildings and heading up to the front door of L'Appartamento Azzurro.

So, please do come & enjoy!Read more

Additional Location Information

La Casa Padronale del Poggiolo is in the Medieval village of Codiponte. The village's name in the local dialect means... "at the head of the bridge". And up until the 20th Century, it was the only bridge to cross the Aulella River. The Pieve of Codiponte, the village's church, was a key way-station of the famous pilgrimage route to Rome, the via Francigena, over this bridge. There are six other churches to visit along this route above Codiponte and before the Carpanelli Pass. Many walking trails & roads lace the surrounding hills of olive groves and to the Castle & Convent of Codiponte. The community is the home to over 300 year-round residents, served by two small food shops, other stores for clothing & household items, a bar & tabaccheria... the "community center" of the village... and bus service. There is ample parking at the arrival end of the Medieval bridge and below it. Within a short drive is Casola in Lunigiana & Gragnola where there are many other shops & grocery stores. And in Gragnola is the train for either Lucca or Aulla & La Spezia.

The Lunigiana is noted for its many charming borghi... or, stone villages, many guarded by stunning castles. In fact, there are over 120 castles & towers throughout the region to visit. The Mediterranean Sea is within a 40 minute drive from Codiponte. So too can Parma, Lucca, Pisa and its airport, and Genoa be easily reached by car for day-trips. The Cinque Terre is a convenient train trip from Aulla. And, closer-by are the historic towns of Sarzana, Massa & Carrara and their beach resorts.

So, come & enjoy!

Location Type Away from it all, Mountain, Village

Rental fees

What Past Guests Are Saying

Overall Rating

• John
  Denver, CO

  Beautiful home, historical, relaxation - highlight of our trip

  Left on 01/22/2013 for a stay in July 2012
  
  

  We stayed here after a whirlwind tour through amsterdam, Rome and Venice. I was worried my boys (age 14 & 17) would be bored after the excitement of the city touring but it ended up being their favorite part of our European trip. Everything about this location is a dream, it is beautifully restored and yet the charm of the buildings and location is addictive. You are transported back in time but with every modern convenience. The locals are friendly, the views are spectacular and the home is absolutely charming. We loved every minute, from complete relaxation with a coffee or glass of wine to an adventurous hike. You will have lifelong memories of a wonderful stay in a beautiful but not touristy part of Italy. Day trips are easy but you will long to come back at the end of the day.

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  Would you recommend this vacation rental to a friend? Yes

  Recommended for: Romantic, Families

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• Annette and Frank Joseph
  Atlanta, Georgia, U.S.A.

  Charming, I must go back again.

  Left on 01/18/2013 for a stay in July 2012
  
  

  This is a very charming home. We loved every minute there. Furnished beautifully. It is located near wonderful beachside towns, with great views of the mountains. It was a memorable and highlight experience staying in Codiponte. Very comfortable, and the kitchen is terrific. I will go back again.

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  Recommended for: Romantic, Families

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• Becky
  Montana

  Serenity

  Left on 01/16/2013 for a stay in September 2012
  
  

  As much as I loved staying in Codiponte, Italy and in La Casa Grande del Poggiolo, it is tucked away into this incredible feeling you get and get to soak up all the good energy all around you. Staying here is just what I was hoping for in Italy, this particular place is stunning. My friends and I took just as many pictures of the inside as well as the outside. One of the best things for me, was that Forrest took us to some local spots, made some phone calls for us and was the above and beyond the best "everything" I could have asked for. He has worked to make it beautiful and it shows everywhere you look.
  So blessed to have had this opportunity. Am most certainly hoping that I may be able to go again, soon. Sincerely, Becky Barker

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  Would you recommend this vacation rental to a friend? Yes

  Recommended for: Romantic, Luxury, Families, Rugged

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• JennLovesLA
  Los Angeles, CA

  Mideival Fantasy Village

  Left on 01/15/2013 for a stay in September 2012
  
  

  The homeowner is a Southern Gentleman who has mastered the art of European hospitality. The home itself is gorgeous: featuring wonderfully eclectic original art, comfortable amenities, charming gardens and breathtaking vistas. My favorite place was the outdoor dining room with a view of the meadows and mountains surrounding. It was gratifying to stay in such a beautifully restored historic building--one that has just enough updates to make it comfortable, but with a loving respect for the history of the structure, the village, and the community. It is a lovely, hidden part of Italy few are able to experience.

  

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  Would you recommend this vacation rental to a friend? Yes

  Recommended for: Romantic

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