ACTIVITIES

Guests have at their disposal: board games, books about the local art and traditions, brochures and maps showing mountain paths, the swimming pool, the children’s play area, the barbecue, the wood-burning oven and the Internet point. Typical produce, honey, oil, flour and biscuits can be purchased at the honey shop. Also available by arrangement, are Italian or English mother-tongue babysitters and maid service. On request, local restaurants can prepare typical Tuscan lunches or dinners.

 Our own business produces honey, oil and products from chestnuts (flour etc. ) From the beehives, in the months of May and June, comes acacia honey which is famous for its delicacy and its clear colour. During the hotter months, comes wildflower honey which has a stronger , more marked flavour, and the honeydew which combines all the flavours and fragrances of summer. The production of the honey takes place inside the ‘mieleria’, or honey house, which guests can visit, just as they can visit the oil production workshop.

An EXCLUSIVE opportunity for our guests.

A visit to the MARBLE QUARRIES of Massa and Carrara, including the MICHELANGELO QUARRY. Guests can witness the particularly interesting process of the extraction of the marble, and the loading and transporting of it on enormous lorries. Then, as a perfect way to end the day, enjoy a delicious sandwich of sliced tomatoes and the ‘world famous’ Lard from COLONNATA , which is preserved in marble troughs. During the winter months, the olive harvest takes place. Our olives, and many other typical products from the area can be purchased in the shop on our premises.

Sports enthusiasts will find many opportunities to pursue their favourite leisure activities, or indeed to learn some new ones. In the area there are various ways to visit the surrounding countryside. Starting off from the farmhouse, there are many tracks for mountain biking, and you can also go trekking, river walking, hill climbing or make use of the motocross track a few kilometres away in Gallicano. Alternatively you can stay at the farmhouse and enjoy a game of table tennis.

Guests seeking rest and peace and quiet can just swim in the pool or stretch out and relax in the solarium, or else sip a cool drink on the terrace, perhaps while waiting for a tasty grill to finish cooking on the barbecue.

The CASALE DEI RUSCELLI is an ideal starting point, using any mode of transport, for those who wish to go on trips or outings to admire the extraordinary beauty which Garfagnana has to offer. The owners can provide any information or advice about our paths and about the artistic, historical and natural beauties which surround us.

Swimming pool - situated near the stream and measuring 14m by 7 m with a Jacuzzi corner. Around the pool are beach umbrellas and sun beds to enjoy the sunshine and the relaxing sound of the foliage in the trees.

 - Swimming Pool Photo Gallery

Wood burning oven - This is perhaps one of the special features of the Casale dei Ruscelli. During renovation work, the old wood-burning oven on the first floor of the property was preserved. By arrangement with the manager, guests can cook their own food here or wait for the freshly baked bread with all the warmth and fragrance of baking from a wood-burning oven.

Trout Fishing - In the river Turrite, which rises in the mountains close to the holiday home and after crossing the valley floor and lapping the farmhouse land, finally flows into the artificial lake and then into the River Serchio. Excellent places for trout fishing, even straight from our private land, going upstream to right under the medieval bridge.

Excursions - Fabbriche di Vallico is located at the very centre of Garfagnana being the same distance from both Lucca and Castelnuovo. There are numerous things to see: country churches, churches, interesting curiosities like the Devil’s Bridge or the places where Giovanni Pascoli lived, castles and fantastic views. Lucca, with all its history is only 20 km away, and Pisa only slightly more than 40 km . Florence, which has no need of an introduction, is only 70km away.

Trekking - There are wonderful walks, some starting right from the farmhouse, which in a short time lead to all the ring of mountains which dominate Fabbriche di Vallico, even going as far as the Ferriere, or iron mines, where in olden times iron was extracted for weapons and working tools.

Bike - Many of the trekking routes can also be travelled along on mountain bike. For racing bike enthusiasts, 2km away is the via Lodovica which, going through the Passo del Vestito, leads to the Riviera Apuana or, alternatively, climbing Monte Pitoro and Monte Magno, leads to Versilia.