Fattoria Belvedere Important Information for Your
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FATTORIA BELVEDERE IMPORTANT INFORMATION FOR YOUR HOLIDAY WITH US The following information should ensure a relaxing and thoroughly enjoyable stay with us. You will find practical information about our Fattoria in this document as well as suggestions for your shopping, public transport, nearby sightseeing restaurants and much more. Please note that all land line phone numbers (in this area starting with 055) require dialing the number 0 after the country code (0039 for Italy), in contrast to other countries, while in case of calling mobile phone numbers, the number 0 is NOT dialed between country code and the mobile number network prefix (usually 344, 366, 348 or 339). Information around BELVEDERE Arrival When arriving, you will find the key to your apartment either in the lock of your apartment door or you will receive it directly from us. As our reception is not continuously manned, please always take your key with you, or leave it in a safe place that only you know about. Should you lose your key, please call Signore Vanni Signorini on his mobile phone (0039-3462116301) or alternatively Signore Riccardo Tognaccini (0039-32910780489). They will tell you where to find a spare key. Bed linen/kitchen towels In case you have forgotten to bring your own bed linen etc. or to pre-order it with your rental agreement, you can rent it upon arrival. Please ask the administration for whatever you need. Washing machine Our washing machine is at your disposal. You will find it right behind the main building in an open but roofed space, Access This is past the viewing terrace with its loggia (heading away from the little court). At the corner of the main building tum left and slightly uphill. After about 10m tum right again and you will see the laundry space where you will find lines to hang and dry your washing. Oil and Wine Our Fattoria not only offers you its own wine but especially our renowned first class olive oil, “IgP Toscano” ) . At the reception loggia (between the big table and the little wall) you will find a small door .The key to it is hidden in the lantern hanging above the table (please always put it back for other guests to find). In this small shed you'll find white and red wine and oil, as well as vinegar, made in our Fattoria and Vin “ Santo “ ( wine for the “ MESSA-MASS “ ) which is a sweet/dry desert wine very typical for our area , similar to Port or Sauternes . You will find also an Espresso Coffee with filters. Please note down what you have taken on the notepad prepared for you. Your account will be settled upon your departure. Please note we do not offer payment by debit or credit cards. Payment is by cash or bank transfer only. Prices usually are not higher than in the supermarket, but the products offered are of excellent quality and freshness. Likewise, for kitchen garden products when fruit and vegetables are in season Swimming-pool The swimming pool is for guests only. The maximum depth is 1.80 m. Please pay especial attention to children. The water comes directly from our private aqueduct water system that brings it from a spring in the woods through a 1.4 km pipeline. For safety’s sake the water is treated with a minimal quantity of chlorine. Market days in the vicinity . The markets in towns such as Figline Valdarno , San Giovanni Valdarno or Montevarchi also offer food and other products in overwhelming quantities. You will find everything from shoelaces and household articles to leather goods and suits (including labels such as PRADA , GUCCI , VALENTINO and FERRAGAMO). Friday morning: Castelfranco di Sopra (with a butcher offering the very best porchetta on this planet-a must-taste and the fresh cheese PECORINO FRESCO Saturday morning: San Giovanni Valdarno Saturday afternoon: Pian di Scò Monday morning: Loro Ciuffenna Not that close by, but worth the trip as town and scenery are beautiful. Tuesday morning: Figline Valdarno Thursday morning: Montevarchi Food shopping in Castelfranco di Sopra COOP and CARREFOUR, close at 19,30 h open also in Sunday morning . Butcher ( Filippini ) , Baker , Pasticceria and whatever else you need Please note that the shops in Castlefranco di Sopra are closed on Sundays and Wednesday afternoons. There are also large supermarkets (Conad and Lidl) open also on Sundays in FIGLINE Valdarno , San GIOVANNI Valdarno and Montevarchi Gas/Petrol station. The closest gas station is located in Faella ( near a good “ trattoria “ Il Fiasco “ ), right on the main road leading to Figline Valdarno . Caution: Self service pumps are 10 cents cheaper/liter, but can only be operated with cash or Italian bank cards Opening hours are Mon-Sat 08.00-12-30,15.00-19.00 (NO SERVICE ON SUNDAYS, only Self Service ) . Public Transport For journeys north, especially to Florence and down south to Arezzo or further, we strongly recommend the train. The nearest station is Figline Valdarno where there are trains to Florence every 30 minutes and free parking is available. In Florence, the trains arrive at the main station in the city center at Piazza Santa Maria Novella. For shopping Florence, which you will discover for yourselves, is a truly excellent shopping center. However, we'd also like to recommend two outlet centers close to Castelfranco di Sopra: 1. Cuoieria Fiorentina, Via dei Ciliegi 25-50064 Incisa in Val d'Arno, near exit A1 (Incisa Reggello) an outlet for really beautiful top quality leather goods. www. cuoieriafiorentina.it 2. The Mall, Leccio, near A1 exit Incisa Reggello, Via Europa 8,50066 Leccio, Reggello this is a popular outlet center for the truly big Italian luxury designer labels (Gucci, Valentino , Prada , Ferragamo , Max and Co, etc.). www.themall.it Pharmacies 1. Castelfranco: Farmacia Dr Salvatore Santoro, 6, Via Alighieri Dante, CSTELFRANCO di Sopra. 2. Pian di Scò: Farmacia Sordi, Piazza Europa 3. FIGLINE Valdarno: Farmacia Dssa. Giuseppina Bernardi, 44 Piazza Marsilio Ficino. Medical facilities 118 for EMERGENGY CALL Castelfranco: Casa della Salute 0039 055 9149323 0039 055 9106794 (first-aid ) General practice. Dr Marco Arnetoli or his daughter 0039 0559106788 Pediactrician. 0039 559106785 Hospital: First aid only. Ospedale Serristori Piazza Aprile XX, 10, FIGLINE Valdamo (24h ambulance and emergency. 0039-055-95081 Main Hospital of VALDARNO Valley. Le Gruccie, Pza del VOLONTARIATO 2 52025 Montevarchi. 0039 05591061 Veterinary surgeons Dr Alberto Briganti Locality Restone 50063. Figline Valdamo 0039 055952444 (This vetinary practice and clinic is also a wild animal care and treatment station and thus available 24 hours a day. Dr. Briganti also speaks German and English). Studio Professionale Assoiato Clinica Veterinaria Via Fratelli Rosselli 39/40, 50063 Figlinie Valdamo 0039 0559544822 Sightseeing For those of you who prefer sightseeing far away from the tourist mainstream with its crowds will certainly be rewarded by some rather unique gems in our area. Examples of these are as follows: 1. The Pieve di Gropina close to Loro Chiuffenna, an absolutely unique and marvelous church with a Longobardo pulpit. During August there are concerts by the Accademia Chigiana. 2. The Romanesque churches in Castelfranco (Badia di Soffena, with a fresco by Scheggia, Masaccio’s brother, and in Pian di Scò). 3. The Santo Pietro church in Cascia (Regello) wjth its tryptic San Giovenale by the famous renaissance painter Masaccio who was born in San Giovanni Valdarno. 4. A highly recommended trip is to Chasterhouse Abbey Vallombrosa, “valley in the shadow”, which is by no means a valley but stretches out high in the mountains above Regello. The mesmerizing depth of its forests around the abbey, and the scenery are amazing. There are also many hiking trails to explore. 5. Crossing Crossing the Vallombrosa towards the east will take you down to Camaldoli in Casentino, the first part of the Arno, an unknown part of Tuscany and from there to the well hidden hermitage La Verna built by Francis of Assisi, where he lived for many years. 6. Stia, also located in the Casentino valley, is the old center of Tuscan clothiers and weavers. You will find beautiful modern examples of these arts to buy. if you wish. including hand woven table cloths and clothes. Stop and visit the ruins of the middle ages Castle Torri Romena and the old church, a very romantic place. 7. There are a number of lovely little towns nearby that again are undetected by mass tourism. Anghiari, Monterchi and San Sepolcro are three little towns nestling in the hills, the latter boasting of its parochial church with frescoes by the master Piero della Francesca. Populonia is an Etruscan grave site (you are in an Etruscan region, most of the names of places are Etruscan). 8. The abbey of San Galgano. A Cistercense abbey without a roof. 9. Monte Oliveto Maggiore. An abbey with beautiful cloisters decorated with frescos by Signorelli and Sodoma. 10. The Chianti hills are best discovered via the small mountain roads. The so-called “Crete” is a special highlight in this usually lush green area as all of a sudden you’ll find yourselves in the midst of a rough and completely scant moon-like scene, almost unreal but a true wonder of nature (Greve in Chianti , Castellina in Chianti or Ponzano) 11. The Torre Galatrona, close to Montevarchi, Mercatale, a watch tower dating from the 12th century located in beautiful scenery, inviting you to climb it to enjoy a marvelous view across the entire middle Arno valley. 12. Abbazia del Coltibuono a romanesque abbey at the foot of the Chianti hills with a very popular but smart restaurant. 13. Arrezo finally, the wonderful and important seat of the Grand Dukes of Medici.