Casa Cardoso
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Overview
In a hilltop position that offers captivating views over the Magra Valley, Casa Cardoso is a tranquil retreat for a family looking to get away from it all. This comfortable holiday home sits within gardens that provide many leisure activities, with areas perfect for appreciating the scenery as you dine al fresco.
Surrounded by nature and yet with the medieval town of Sarzana just 20 minutes away by car, the villa is in a prime position for exploring the picturesque countryside. The coast is also within easy reach, with beaches such as Bocca di Magra, Fiascherino and Tellaro being around a 30-minute drive from Casa Cardoso.
The tasteful restoration that this traditional villa has enjoyed means that the interior has retained plenty of original features and much rustic charm. The bright and open living space is a prime example of this, with wood beam ceiling and an antique stone fireplace creating a cosy feel. The traditional Tuscan stone and terracotta flooring is a theme that continues into the kitchen and throughout much of the ground floor. Accessed via the living room is a covered terrace with charming dining area and unspoilt views over the lush landscapes.
Three spacious bedrooms can accommodate up to 10 people. Each bedroom is perfect for families with younger children in particular, with bunk beds sure to be a hit.
Down on the lower ground level is a gym and sauna for the adults, with plenty of outside space that's incredibly family-friendly. Around the gardens you'll find a private swimming pool, children's play area with slide and swings, and beach volleyball area. Enjoy al fresco lunches and atmospheric evening meals on the covered terrace or by the wood-fire barbecue area.
Just 20 minutes away from Casa Cardoso by car is the historic town of Sarzana. It boasts a wealth of medieval architecture, with highlights including Fortezzo di Sarzanello and Sarzana Cathedral. Another medieval hotspot within a 30-minute drive is Lerici, with its fortress and attractive harbour.
The famous Cinque Terre is around an hour's drive away, with these five ancient coastal villages each having their own features and attractions. The most distinctive aspect they share are the pastel-coloured houses that dramatically perch on rugged cliff edges.
What you should know…
- This property sleeps 6 guests comfortably, whilst a further 4 guests may be accommodated in sofa beds. Please see the 'Features' tab for full details
- Access to the property is via a narrow street (smaller vehicles are recommended)
- The staircase is made from a stunning local stone - take care when using the stairs
- Please note that published rates are only valid for the current year. Any bookings for subsequent years will be on request only and correct rates will be confirmed at the time of booking
- Please note that your booking will only be confirmed once we have checked availability with the owner or their property manager
Property Features
Villa Interiors
Lower Ground Floor
- Gym
- Sauna
- Bathroom with shower
- Laundry room
Ground Floor (split level)
- Living/dining room with sofa, double sofa bed, antique stone fireplace, TV, digital safe and doors to terrace with electric and air-conditioned pergotenda with dining table for eight people, table and chairs
- Kitchen with oven, microwave, fridge, dishwasher, American coffee maker and breakfast bar with stools
- Bathroom with shower
First Floor
- Bedroom with queen size bed, sofa bed (two single beds), TV, DVD player and CD player
- Bedroom with queen size bed, single foldaway bed, TV, DVD player and CD player
- Bunk bed (two single beds), single foldaway bed, TV, DVD player and CD player and doors to a balcony with seating and access to the courtyard
- Bathroom with double shower
Outside Grounds
- Swimming pool (12m x 5m, depth: 1.20m - 1.80m) with heated Abrisud cover, open approximately May to end-September
- Garden
- Electric and air-conditioned covered terrace with dining table for eight guests
- Dining table and benches
- Wood-fire barbecue
- Children's play area with slide, swings
- Beach volleyball area
- Sun loungers and parasols
- Courtyard with parking
Facilities
- Wi-Fi
- Air-conditioning
- Digital safe
- Washing machine and tumble dryer
- Iron and ironing board
Location
About the surrounding area of Casa CardosoStaying at Casa Cardoso means you get to enjoy total peace and quiet in a typically unspoilt part of the Liguria countryside. The villa's elevated position on a picturesque hillside means the views over the Magra Valley are simply spectacular. Despite its secluded and rural setting close to the border with Tuscany, there are several restaurants within a 20-minute drive.
For a greater choice of amenities and plenty of sightseeing opportunities, visit medieval Sarzana. It's a beautiful town, with brightly-coloured buildings and both streets and squares lined with historic sites. Some of the highlights include 13th-century Sarzana Cathedral and 15th-century La Cittadella Fortezza Firmafede.
You can reach the famous Cinque Terre villages either by train from Sarzana, or simply drive there from the villa in around an hour. The closest of these five ancient fishing villages is Riomaggiore. Here you can follow the clifftop trail called 'The Path of Love' to the village of Manarola, taking in glorious sea views along the way. Monterosso al Mare boasts a lovely sandy beach for relaxing and clear waters for swimming.
The coastline that runs from Lerici to San Terenzo for about 4km is dotted with a mixture of sand and pebble beaches. This makes the town of Lerici a particularly nice place to visit for a day trip, as it also has an imposing fortress and public gardens to explore.
As the villa is so close to the Liguria-Tuscany border, it's easy to cross over into Tuscany and visit places such as Carrara. The city is most famous for its marble quarries and you can stroll around a museum that covers the history of marble production.
| Local Amenities | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Nearest Airport |
Pisa
(80km) |
||
| Nearest Airport 2 |
Genoa
(120km) |
||
| Nearest Town/City |
Sarzana
(7km) |
||
| Nearest Restaurant |
Sarzana
(7km) |
||
| Nearest Bar/Pub |
Sarzana
(7km) |
||
| Nearest Supermarket |
Sarzana
(7km) |
||
| Nearest Beach |
(17km) |
||
| Nearest Golf |
Lerici
(17km) |
||
| Nearest Tennis |
Sarzana
(7km) |
||
| Nearest Train Station |
Sarzana
(7km) |
||
Kids
Best Suited For: All AgesHistoric Sarzana is home to a fascinating medieval fortress, La Cittadella Fortezza Firmafede. Children will love exploring the ancient structure, with a multimedia museum and underground area to discover too.
Another medieval fortress worth visiting is in Lerici. Also inside this imposing building is the Museum of Palaeontology, with lots of model dinosaurs to be spotted around the castle grounds.
Some of the closest beaches to the villa include Bocca di Magra, Fiascherino and Tellaro. Swim, relax on the beach, and take in the beautiful surrounding scenery of these picturesque coastal spots. Also visit the beautiful sandy beach in the famous Cinque Terre village of Monterosso al Mare.
Baby and Toddler Equipment
- Cot(s)
- High Chair(s)
Kids Activities Close-by
- Tennis Nearby
- Cycling
- Horse Riding
- Outdoor Pursuit & Activities
- Tourist Towns & Villages
- Historical Sites
Onsite Facilities
- Slide
- Swings
- DVD
- Toys
- Fenced Grounds
Services Available
- Chef/Cook Available
- Maid Service Available
- Babysitting Available
Extras
Oliver's Extras
- Pre-Stocked Fridge Available
- Cooking Classes Available
- Transfers Available
- Chef/Cook Available
- Maid Service Available
- Babysitting Available
- Laundry Service Available
- Yacht Cruise Available
Oliver's Travels Chef Service: A Gourmet Dining Experience
Make hosting a memorable dinner party at your villa an absolute breeze with our superb Chef Service. Our chefs will take care of everything for you from start to finish so you can just sit back and enjoy the gastronomic experience. They will bring all the necessary ingredients, cook and serve the food and even clean up afterwards. To find out more visit www.oliverstravels.com/chefs
Please note that any event rental may be subject to additional charges, venue hire fees and to a hig...
Read moreEvent information
Please note that any event rental may be subject to additional charges, venue hire fees and to a higher security deposit, which will be in addition to any published rental rates and fees.
All events are on request only and subject to prior agreement from the owner, who reserves the right to refuse all events without their prior authorisation.
| Security deposit | €500 paid in cash to the owner upon arrival and refunded upon departure, subject to full inspection. |
| Arrival time | 4.00 p.m. - 8.00 p.m. Late arrivals, if agreed, will be charged €50 (paid locally in cash). |
| Departure time | 10.00 a.m. |
Terms & Conditions
These terms and conditions may be amended from time to time.
| Security deposit | €500 paid in cash to the owner upon arrival and refunded upon departure, subject to full inspection. |
| Arrival time | 4.00 p.m. - 8.00 p.m. Late arrivals, if agreed, will be charged €50 (paid locally in cash). |
| Departure time | 10.00 a.m. |
| Changeover day | Flexible. |
| Minimum stay | 2 nights. |
| End of stay cleaning included? | Extra €250, paid locally in cash on arrival. However, guests are required to leave the accommodation clean, tidy and in the same condition as on their arrival. Any extra cleaning, laundry, maintenance and/or rubbish disposal required will be charged against the security deposit. |
| Energy costs included? | Yes. |
| Heating costs included? | Extra €30 per day, paid locally. |
| Linen & towels included? | Yes. |
| Pool towels included? | Yes. |
| Insurance | Guests are required to be in possession of a valid insurance policy, which covers them for cancellations, personal belongings, personal liability and any accidental damage caused during their stay. |
| Smoking Allowed? | Outside only. |
| Internet access? | Wi-Fi internet access included. |
| Pets welcome? | On request only and with prior agreement with the owner. If accepted, a pet supplement of €10 per pet per day will apply (paid locally). |
| Other Ts and Cs | Weddings, stag/hen parties and any special events are on request only and subject to prior arrangement with the owner and additional charges. |
| Other Ts and Cs | This property sleeps 6 guests comfortably, whilst a further 4 guests may be accommodated in sofa beds. Please see the 'Features' tab for full details. |
| Pool opening dates? | The pool is open approximately May to end-September. Please note that pool opening dates are subject to local weather conditions and pool maintenance requirements and that cooler months may not be suitable for swimming. |
| Other Ts and Cs | Please note that published rates are only valid for the current year. Any bookings for subsequent years will be on request only and correct rates will be confirmed at the time of booking. |
| Other Ts and Cs | Please note that your booking will only be confirmed once we have checked availability with the owner or their property manager. |
Rental Rates
Prices based on an occupancy of 6 people:
| Rental period | 2 Nights | 3 Nights | 4 Nights | 5 Nights | Weekly |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jun 2nd 2023 - Jan 1st 2024 | £2,812 | £4,218 | £5,623 | £7,029 | £9,837 |
| Jan 1st 2024 - Dec 3rd 2024 | £2,988 | £4,481 | £5,975 | £7,468 | £10,452 |
Please note that these prices/rates are a guide only and may not be correct at the current date. For an accurate quote, please enquire.
Reviews
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Excellent 5-star holiday
We were guests at Casa Cardoso in August of 2009 for one glorious week. The villa is exceptionally well appointed in terms of amenities. The rooms are very stylish and comfortable each with a private bath and plenty of storage space. There are plenty of towels and bed linen. The kitchen is well-stocked in terms of equipment and has a huge centre island ideal for sitting around. The games room was well utilised by our children. The beautiful swimming pool provided daily relief from the August sun while the early evenings offered a perfect time for a game of tennis. We enjoyed many happy meals on the terraces. The views over the valley are beautiful offering breathtaking sunsets. Although the villa is hard to find the privacy of the location is perfect if you are looking for an escape from the normal tourist traps. This villa is ideal for a family reunion. We loved the feel of an authentic Tuscan holiday. We would suggest you order initial provisions in advance as it can take a few days to get to know the local amenities.
-
Amazing views and wonderful host!
We stayed at the beautiful Casa Cardoso for almost 14 days. We met Massimo on arrival. He surprised us with a bottle of wine and some lovely food. Thank you again! The villa was clean, the kitchen was very well equipped and the views from the villa and garden are really spectacular. We loved to stay at the villa and enjoyed our selfmade dinners, the beach volley, the sauna, the swimming pool and the views in the evening. It was like a hotel. Yes it is a ride up hill to get to the villa. But we loved it and every trip it became easier. We visited Sarzana, Pisa, Lucca, Florence, the beach 'Eco Del Mare' in Fiascherino then Tellaro, Lerici, the wonderful Portovenere and Cinque Terre (twice). We travelled on foot, train and boat in Cinque Terre. We really enjoyed your villa and we can't wait to come back. We will definitely recommend Casa Cardoso to our friends. Thank you very much!
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