The large terrace between the house and the barn offers our guests a place to paint; a further terrace beyond the swimming pool gives spectacular views of the valley and mountains.

The extensive grounds of Val di Pozza offer lovely walks through chestnut woods and to the river which flows past our property. We have kept the old terracotta pig huts and the forno (al fresco Italian oven) as a reminder that Val di Pozza was once a traditional Italian chestnut farm (and the forno is perfect for summer barbecues).


The studio and arts library provide well-equipped facilities for painting, drawing and sculpture. The arts library contains a comprehensive range of reference books, videos and DVD's covering traditional and contemporary art, and computers for Photoshop work. Access to the Internet is available.

Fresh Tuscan food is prepared daily at Val di Pozza by Mary and we cater well for vegetarians. Some of our specialities are bruschetta, pasta al funghi, bistecca al forno and frutti di bosco. The Garfagnana region is famous for its porcini mushrooms which are used in many of our dishes.

This area of Tuscany is home to the 'Slow Food' movement and much of the food and wine is organically grown. Our red table wine is supplied by a small local vineyard.

Barga's favourite restaurant, La Mocchia, is a 10-minute stroll from the farmhouse, and Lorenzo, the proprietor, never fails to entertain us and make us feel part of 'la famiglia italiana'. The sage and butter ravioli and antipasto della casa are a treat! Other activities to enjoy include eating al fresco, playing pool or watching the stars through the telescope. Alternatively you may wish to stroll down the lane to La Mocchia for an aperitivo or a nightcap.

English, Italian