Thoughts, impressions and sweet words that many very kind guests of the Borgo del Ponte felt they wanted to write at the end of their stay. Many thanks to all!!
Ahhhh…Il Panoramico. We wish we were still there. My wife, three daughters (21, 18, and 16) and I just returned from a fabulous 2 week holiday in Italy which included stays in Venice, Rome, Massa, and Milan. We all agreed that our stay with Marilli and Carlo at Il Panoramico was our favorite. Imagine driving up to a centuries old estate alongside the river and walking into a beautiful new apartment with marble floors, high end appliances, beautiful antique furniture, and luxurious linens while all the time the scents of freshly cut herbs, flowers and citrus surround you. Marilli and Carlo are the definition of hospitality. When we initially checked in, she welcomed us as we would welcome a friend or family member into our own home. I even had to remind Marilli at check in that we needed to pay the rent for our stay. A true hostess, Marilli had provided fresh lettuce, onions and citrus from her garden and shared with my wife how she prepares them in her own home. Although the owners are on site, one never feels that they are intrusive at all. You are free to be as private as you want to be but you would be missing out on the treasure of Marilli and Carlo’s friendship. The location was perfect for our Tuscany adventures. We rented a car in Rome and drove up the coast with a stop in Pisa on the way. From Massa we took day trips to San Gimignano, Florence, Cinque Terre, and the beach at Marina di Massa (about 15 mins from the house with plenty of public parking). After the hustle and bustle of Rome, Massa was a welcome oasis from the teeming hordes of tourists, police sirens, and chaos of the big city. Slowly waking up to church bells, roosters crowing in the distance and neighbors greeting one another should be recommended therapy for all of us who live high pressure, stressed-out lives. Numerous restaurants and a large grocery store (Conad) are within easy safe walking distance from the apartment. We soon found out that English speakers (and menus) are not as common as they are in the more touristy areas we visited but we had no problems and only encountered the kindest most polite people everywhere we visited in Massa. One of my daughters commented as we strolled to Steak Burger Gourmet (they’re young American girls and had a burger craving after 10 days in Italy) “ this feels like we’re walking in our own neighborhood”. By the way, the fries at Steak Burger are the best ever and the chef/owner is amazing
Sehr empfehlenswert!
Wir haben die “Il Panoramico” Wohnung” gemietet. Sehr gerne sagen wir hier: ** Es war hervorragend** Die ausführlichen vorherigen Bewertungen und Angaben können wir ausnahmslos bestätigen. Alles ist nagelneu und sehr geschmackvoll eingerichtet- so wie auf den Bildern. Die “Il Panoramico” ist für 4 Personen( + 1 Kind) prima geeignet. Man kommt zuerst in eine große Wohnküche. Die 2 großzügigen Schlafzimmer dahinter, mit jeweils separaten Badezimmern, die sich genau zwischen den beiden Schlafzimmern befinden, ermöglichen Ruhe untereinander. 1 Schlafzimmer hat eine Aufbettung für ein Kind. Die Zimmer haben Klimaanlage die gut funktioniert. Es war sehr heiß, aber in den Zimmern stets angenehm temperiert. Für den Strand empfehlen wir einen Sonnenschirm selbst mitzunehmen. Preise dafür sonst zwischen 10 ( in Massa) -30 Euro ( Richtung Viariggio) pro Tag. Es gibt sichere Parkplätze im Innenhof. Das Haus hat einen großen Garten. Liebe Marilli, lieber Carlo, Vielen Dank für den angenehmen Aufenthalt bei euch. Wir kommen gerne wieder. Liebe Grüße Ina
Traumhafte Wohnung
Die Wohnung ist sehr liebevoll gestalteten und gut ausgestattet mit allem was man braucht. Parken kann man im Hof hinter einem sicheren Tor. Die Betten sind komfortabel und neu. Das Badezimmer ist sehr sauber, wie die ganze Wohnung. Die Vermieter sind außerordentlich nett, geben Tipps, bieten einen guten Service und sprechen englisch. Der Garten ist groß, gepflegt und man hat Marmor Tische und Sitzgelegenheiten. Von der Wohnung aus kann man zu Fuß wunderbar Einkaufen oder die Stadt erkunden. Mit dem Auto kann man wunderbar ans Meer fahren zum Baden oder die Atemberaubende gegend erkunden, Pisa, Lucca, 5terre ist alles relativ nah und schnell zu erreichen. Das mieten der Wohnung ist unkompliziert und ich kann die Wohnung uneingeschränkt empfehlen.
Thank You
Last year I and my 3 friends walked Via Frangigena from Vercelli to Rome. After a days walk we were unable to find our accommodation but fortunately we met Marili and Carlo who very kindly let us use their ” La Casina”. How lucky were we !! The cottage is so stylish, comfortable, well equipped and super clean. Apart from the wonderful property attributes the owners deserve 5 star rating for the most wonderful welcome and kindness , that we will treasure always , as one of the highlights on our walk to Rome. Kind Regards Raili, Sisko , Sirkku and Seija
WOW!
If you close your eyes and picture the perfect northern Tuscany location, lodging and hosts, that would be Il Lucernario (The Skylight). My husband and I spent 12 wonderful days in this beautiful apartment in Massa. Everything about the apartment was perfect – the location, comfort and layout. It was spotlessly clean, had excellent linens, high-end cookware, and was beautifully furnished and decorated. We had amazing views from the windows and we enjoyed sitting in the sun on our own private patio. We always looked forward to returning to this cozy, romantic home-away-from-home at the end of the day. Parking was available on the property, and on our arrival we were supplied with milk, bread, various teas, sweets, and a beautiful vase of flowers picked from the garden. Marili and Carlo, were the most hospitable and friendly hosts you could ever imagine and they made sure we had everything we needed for our stay. We just loved them – they are both lovely people who really wanted us to have a good time exploring Massa and the surrounding areas. They gave us lots of information and maps on places to visit (don’t miss taking a tour of the Carrara quarries (spectacular), and the Wednesday market in the beautiful town of Forte Dei Marmi (one of the best we went to in Italy). We were encouraged to pick any of the herbs and fruit from their amazing garden which we really enjoyed. Overall, we couldn’t recommend this place more highly! Thank you, Marili and Carlo for helping us enjoy Massa. You are the best hosts ever! (We were also given a tour of the other apartments on this property and if you are lucky enough to stay in any of them, you are in for a real treat! All are beautifully decorated, and have the best in appliances, linens and furnishings. Two of the apartments are accessible by a private elevator, all others have private entrances.)
Ein Traum – uneingeschränkte Empfehlung!!!
Dank dieser tollen Wohnung hatten wir einen unvergesslichen Urlaub in der Toskana. Alles ist neu restauriert, sehr stilvolle und charmante Einrichtung und ein großer, wunderschöner Garten zur gemeinschaftlichen Nutzung und eine eigene Terrasse, direkt am Fluss gelegen, was will man mehr. Küche mit Gasherd, super, um dort frische Pasta o.ä. zu kochen, sehr liebevoll eingerichtet und mit allem nötigen ausgestattet. Das Bad ist nagelneu und das Schlafzimmer mit einem großen, bequemen Bett ausgestattet. Im Schlafzimmer gibt es außerdem Fensterläden, die die Sonne draußen lassen, so dass es angenehm kühl bleibt. Restaurants und nötige Geschäfte alle fußläufig erreichbar. Bis zum Kern der Altstadt auch unter 10 Minuten, dann findet man einen schönen Platz, sitzt mit Eis unter Orangenbäumen. Im Juli war es sehr heiß, aber es ging immer ein angenehmer Wind. Nachts war es dann soweit abgekühlt, dass man gut schlafen konnte. Strand ist ca. 10 Minuten mit dem Auto entfernt, man hat viel Auswahl, ob man einen kostenlosen oder einen mit Eintritt will. Das Beste waren allerdings die Vermieter! Zwei italienische Pensionäre, die uns jeden Wunsch von den Augen abgelesen haben und ihren “Job” leidenschaftlich ausführen; immer einen tollen Tipp parat hatten und uns unheimlich herzlich und rührend umsorgten. Das hat den ein oder anderen falschen “Restaurantgriff ” verhindert und den Wohlfühlcharakter der Wohnung noch einmal unterstrichen. Wir werden auf jeden Fall wiederkommen!
Vontade de Voltar
Em meio ao borgo do centro histórico da cidade de Massa (MS) se encontra uma verdadeira joia, a CASA DE VACANZE TOSCANA – “BORGO DEL PONTE”, com todo o requinte da Toscana. O local é delicioso, perto do centro de Massa e das montanhas e não longe das praias. Ali, se encontra a hospitalidade de Carlo e Marili, que gerenciam a Casa de Vacanze; ambos cuidam dos mínimos detalhe e são muito atenciosos com os hospedes, fazendo você se sentir em casa. A Casa de Vacanze Borgo del Ponte proporciona uma viagem no tempo, com sua cantina maravilhosa do ano de 1600, contrastando com os apartamentos modernos. Além da beleza , alí, se pode aproveitar o jardim e o som tranquilizante das águas do rio que corre das montanhas. A “CASINA”, (como se chama o apartamento em que fiquei de 18 a 23 de julho de 2015) é formada por um quarto espaçoso , muito bem decorado, uma cozinha e um banheiro com tudo o que se precisa. Tudo muito confortável e gostoso , que já me dá vontade de voltar.
Splendida dimora
Un soggiorno perfetto, una vacanza rilassante e sicuramente da ripetere. Abbiamo soggiornato nella casina così bella e confortevole che ci siamo sentiti subito a nostro agio. L’arredamento curatissimo, la pulizia impeccabile e tutto il corredo meritano un elogio ai padroni di casa che con grande passione hanno ristrutturato questa dimora ricca di storia. A un passo dal mare e dalle colline, immersa in un borgo dal profumo antico ,la casa è il suo giardino sono veramente incantevoli….
Dove la storia incontra la cordialità
Siamo stati subito colpiti dalla descrizione molto ben fatta e ci siamo decisi a prenotare dopo aver parlato al telefono con la squisita proprietaria. Le aspettative non sono state tradite, tutt’altro !!!! Il posto è incantevole curato in ogni particolare dagli interni al rigoglioso giardino. Entrambi i proprietari gentilissimi. Torneremo !!!!
Qualité de l’accueil, confort du logement, tout est parfait.
Situé en ville, on arrive dans ce jardin comme dans un havre de paix. Au milieu des orangers, on est chaleureusement accueillis par Maria et son mari. Un espace pour la voiture. Tout est fait pour que le sejour se passe bien. L’appartement est particulièrement agréable, très calme, le bonheur d’avoir une salle de bain pour chaque chambre, l’ensemble d’une grande propreté. C’est une location que je recommande, personne ne sera déçu.
We’ve booked the apartment because we wanted to be near the mountains and the sea and we liked the pictures on the webpage. In reality it was exactly like the pictures and better. The apartment is really wonderful with a lot of charming little details. The overall presentation inside and outside was perfect. It is big enough for two people. In the big garden there are possibilities to sit and eat. We arrived by car which could be safely parked on the premises behind a big gate. The owners of the apartment Mareli and Carlo are very well prepared for their tenants. They gave us a lot of useful tips and recommendations about Massa, the area and things to do. They really added value to our holiday. We are very thankful for it! Massa is definitely worth a trip. The apartment is located in the oldest part of the town. From there one can discover by foot the town and the castle (opens only Saturday and Sunday between 4 and 8 p.m.). The nearest supermarket (Conad) is 5 min away and has everything one needs and more. In the direction of Carrara there is also a Lidl. There are a lot of restaurants and pizzerias in town. We liked very much Il Baccanale at Piazza Mercurio and the pizzeria Il Portone in Via Palestro. From the house it is possible to hike directly into the Apuan Alps or one takes a short drive with the car into one of the mountain villages and hikes from there. The path ways are very well marked. Hiking is definitely worth while. The public beach is a short drive away. If one does not want to drive as much, the train is a good alternative, it saves the hassle with the local traffic and the search for parking places. From the train station Massa Centro (20 min by foot) one can get to a lot of interesting places, like Lucca, Pisa, Florence, Cinque Terre and much more… We would go back anytime and can recommend the apartment without hesitation!
An amazing place to stay.
My partner and I had an amazing time in this sweet little studio. The studio itself is newly renovated with lots of love to every detail. It is well and valuable equipped. Also some roses and sweets were waiting for us. The studio itself was spotlessly clean. A nice little place in front of the door can be used to sit outside the studio. The view is amazing. There is a course of a stream to be seen, the huge garden with its nice plants and other opportunities to sit and also the sea can be seen on the horizon. There are birds to be heard and the noices of the stream. At this lovely place you would not imagine that you are directly in the old centre of Massa. Everything you need is just in walking distance. Lots of great pizzerias and restaurants are in walking distance. Massa also has a train station (barely in walking distance) to drive to Cinque Terre. In driving distance is a huge Carrefour supermarket, which has opening times until 23.30h. We made trips to lots of tuscan cities and the landlords were more than helpful to provide us with tips. They were so nice and always friendly that we both were a little bit sad when we left the studio and had to say goodbye to Maria and Carlo. We hope to visit this place and both of them again!
Tolle Wohnung
Die Wohnung ist ein Traum. Wir haben schon viele Wohnungen via Internett gebucht, aber selten hat die Wirklichkeit die Fotos der Wohnungen übertroffen. Die Wohnung ist sehr liebevoll und persönlich und viel Designverständnis eingerichtet. Man merkt dass sich Maria sehr viel Gedanken gemacht hat, und sich Zeit gelassen hat beim Einrichten. Die Anfahrt ist beim ersten mal durch die engen Gassen vor dem Haus vielleicht etwas anstrengend aber auch mit größeren Autos zu meistern. Das Meer ist schnell erreicht und man findet auch in der Hauptsaison noch einen Platz an den freien Stränden. Die Altstadt von Massa ist in ein paar Minuten zu Fuß erreicht. Der persönliche und liebevolle Kontakt hat uns wie Freunde und nicht nur Gäste vorkommen lassen. Vielen Dank für die tolle Führung durch das Haus und seiner Geschichte.
Just Stupendous!!!!!!!
IL LUCERNARIO – Room With A View Ms. Maria Giovani and Mr. Carlo Milani were the most gracious hosts ever. The property is immaculate and my particular room was better than the comforts of home: large, clean, well stocked with utensils and all necessary items for the weeks stay. They were both very hospitable with many suggestions of area events as well as necessities of everyday living. The location is within walking distance of the town center for banking, shopping and sightseeing, which occupied much of my time while there. Having a car, I did many short side trips to Pisa, Pietrasanta, Carrara, Cinque Terre and the Marble Quarries above Forte de Marmi and Carrara. The architecture of the area is amazing and its history as well. I will definitely recommend the property to all who wish to spend time in Massa in the comforts of a home environment with a hospitality to match! There is nothing like fresh orange and lemon juice picked off the trees downstairs for breakfast and tea. Kudos to Marili and Carlo, whom I will fondly remember forever.
Well-equipped modern apartment + spectacular view
It’s difficult to write a new review when actuallay everything has already been said (see review by American family): We had a fantastic holiday in Il panoramico and can really recommend it. Marili and Carlo give you a very warm welcome and help with whatever they can. At the same time, they are absolutely discreet. The apartment is very clean and furnished with very great taste (lots of antique pieces) and a new kitchen. Our two little girls especially enjoyed the stay there: one attraction was the lift up to the second floor (where the apartment is situated) and the second, and most important was their new best friend: Marili, she was so cordial and lovely with them. Thanks again for a lovely two weeks, Marili and Carlo!!
5 STELLE!
Abbiamo soggiornato presso La Casina per due settimane e sin dal momento della prenotazione i proprietari si sono dimostrati persone disponibili, comprensive e molto gentili. Ci siamo sentiti subito a casa, tutto pulitissimo! La signora Maria Giovanna e il marito ci hanno consigliato i locali migliori per mangiare e ci hanno spiegato con entusiasmo la storia della proprietà. Il restauro è stato fatto in modo accurato con attenzione ai particolari e abbiamo apprezzato molto anche la tranquillità del posto e la vicinanza al centro storico di Massa, raggiungibile a piedi con una breve passeggiata. Inoltre, vista la splendida posizione, le temperature serali erano sempre gradevoli ed hanno reso ancora più piacevole il soggiorno. Ringraziamo di cuore la signora Maria Giovanna e il marito per la bella vacanza.
Beautiful and Comfortable Must Stay in Massa!
My husband and I were in town visiting family for 5 nights and came across this place to stay. One thing I am always concerned about is that the pictures may not reflect what you actually get. In this case – it was EXACTLY what we got and were hoping for! The suite was very clean, very comfortable and had all amenities we desired. This place is adorable! The bed was comfortable, the air conditioner worked very well, it’s quiet in the neighbourhood, had a small kitchenette with a perfect sized bathroom for my husband and I. The nice added touch was the skylight above the bed; waking up to that was just lovely. The location of the home is very convenient as it is right beside the downtown of the Massa. If you’re traveling through Massa or there for a stay, I would highly recommend staying here. The price was very reasonable and the home was comfortable. Maria and her husband, Carlo, were very accommodating and Carlo even assisted us by picking us up at the train station when we arrived in Massa and dropping us off on our departure! We had a fantastic stay – I look forward to staying there on our next visit!! See you next time! :-)
Herbst in der Toskana
Das Cottage/La casina ist wirklich so, wie auf den Bildern. Die Einrichtung ist sehr liebevoll im Vintage-Stil gehalten. Die Küche ist einfach, aber zweckmässig eingerichtet. Das Badezimmer ist mit einer Regendusche und modernen Armaturen sehr ansprechend. Alles war äusserst sauber. Das 160 m breite Bett ist mit einer bequemen Matratze ausgestattet. Das Cottage verfügt über einen kleinen eigenen Garten. Die Besitzer Maria Giovanna und Carlo haben sich sehr liebenswürdig um uns gekümmert. Wir haben uns rundum willkommen und wohl gefühlt. Nochmals vielen Dank, liebe Maria Giovanna und Carlo.
Wonderful stay!!
From the moment we booked, our hosts treated us like part of the family. They took great care to accommodate our every need, welcoming us with fresh apricots picked from their beautiful garden! The room was immaculately clean, quite large, and recently renovated with AC, full kitchen, and all the comforts you may need. The room overlooks a beautiful garden and evening sunsets. On-site secure parking is available. Great base for exploring the Cinque Terre, and many more beautiful and lesser-known towns, beaches which should demand your time. We loved our stay, and cannot wait to return one day…Thank you Marili & Carlo
Best Stay of Our Italian Vacation
Our family of 4 stayed at Casa Vacanze Borgo del Ponte last month and we had a wonderful stay. The apartment was very clean, modern and beautiful, with spectacular views. The owners were charming and helpful. Parking was secure. The location in the old part of Massa was one of the more authentic experiences we had during our trip through Italy, close to great restaurants and piazzas with more locals than tourists. 30 minute drive to the Forte Del Marmi beach and the train in La Spezia to visit Cinque Terre. We highly recommend staying here.
Elegant and spacious apartment
We’ve stayed at the “Il Panoramico” apartment for two weeks and just loved it. The apartment is very spacious, elegant and light-flooded and has a well equipped kitchen, two bedrooms and two separate bathrooms with showers. There is a huge garden that can be used by all of the five apartments. Marili and Carlo welcomed us with open arms and where very helpful with giving advice concerning private beaches and leisure programs for families with young children. The house is situated in the oldest part of Massa in walking distance of several restaurants and gelaterias. We would definitely recommend our friends to stay at Marilis and Carlos place! Thank you Marili and Carlo for the wonderful time we could spend at your house!
Superbe séjour dans cet appartement !
Nous avons passé un très agréable séjour dans cette belle maison à 2 pas du centre historique où l’on a trouvé plein de bons restaurants, des boutiques ouvertes jusqu’à minuit et une ambiance très sympathique. L’appartement était très propre, décoré avec beaucoup de goût et les propriétaires charmants. On a pu aller facilement à Florence, Pise et Lucca ainsi que dans les Cinqueterre et sur les plages de Massa. On y retournera dès que possible avec beaucoup de plaisir.
Appartamento luminoso e molto comfortevole!
Siamo stati 7 giorni in questo carinissimo appartamento storico, restaurato da poco, vicinissimo al centro storico di Massa. Camere molto confortevoli, pulite, silenziose, spaziose e luminose. Ideale per chi ha bambini e vuole fare una vacanza con le comodità di un’appartamento. Proprietari gentilissimi e molto disponibili. Consigliatissimo!
Wohlfühlen garantiert!
Liebe Vermieter/in, nach einer wundervollen Woche in der Wohnung La Casina möchten wir Euch eine Rückmeldung geben: Die Wohnung fiel uns bei der Suche, eine Bleibe in Ligurien Nähe Toskana zu finden, sofort wegen der schönen Fotos auf – sie entsprechen absolut der Wirklichkeit, auch wenn diese fast noch schöner ist. Die Kontaktaufnahme zu Euch war sehr einfach und Fragen wurden sehr schnell beantwortet. Somit waren die Buchung, die Abstimmung wegen der Bezahlung (keine versteckten Kosten!), die Anfahrt schnell geklärt und wir konnten uns auf den Urlaub freuen. In Massa angekommen fanden wir Euch schnell in dem kleinen Altstadtviertel Borgo Ponte, konnten unser Auto bequem im Hof abstellen, wurden auf’s herzlichste begrüßt und mit ersten Tipps versorgt. Die Wohnung ist mit so vielen liebevollen Details (Möbel und Gardinen mit Geschichte, hübsche Bettwäsche, sehr gute Matratze, wohltuende Farben, Bilder, Bücher, Zeitschriften) und praktischen Dingen (tolle große Dusche, Bidet, Handtuchhaken im Bad, genügend Stauraum in Schlafzimmer und Küche, Espressokanne, gutes Brotmesser) eingerichtet, so dass wir uns gleich wohlgefühlt haben. Die Altstadt von Massa mit ihren Geschäften, Bars und Restaurants ist keine 10 Minuten zu Fuß entfernt. Dort gibt es viele sehr gute Möglichkeiten köstlich zu essen und sich aufzuhalten. Ebenso ist man mit dem Auto schnell am Strand, an den Carara-Steinbrüchen, der unmittelbaren Natur und auch in den bekannten sehenswürdigen Städten (La Spezia, Lucca, Pisa, Florenz etc.) Wir empfehlen diese uns bekannte Wohnung und auch die anderen im Haupthaus, die Ihr uns gezeigt habt uneingeschränkt! Vielen, vielen Dank für eine herrliche, erholsame, freundliche Zeit bei Euch.
Ein schöner Urlaub
Die Ferienwohnung von Familie Maria und Carlo Giovanna hat uns sehr gut gefallen und den Angaben und unseren Erwartungen genau entsprochen. Sie ist sehr schön, gepflegt und geschmackvoll eingerichtet mit schönen Ausblick auf 3 Seiten mit Blick auf Berge und Meer. Die Familie Giovanna war sehr freundlich und hilfsbereit bei allen Fragen. In der Umgebung gibt es sehr viele Restaurant mit vielen frischen Fischen und Spezialitäten aus der Toskana sowie auch viele Sehenswürdigkeiten in dieser Region. Wir danken der netten Familie Giovanna und kommen gerne wieder. Joanna und Kurt.
Escape to the real Italy
We have just had a fantastic holiday.Maria and her husband could not have been better hosts.Welcoming and always there to help , if we need to find out information they were on hand to advise us.The apartment was perfect for us and spotlessly clean. If you want all day full english breakfast and Paddys bar with Sky Tv this not the place for you. However if you want to go to Italy to see and taste Italy you will be hard pushed to find a better place to be. 10 mins by car to either the beach or the mountains. Eating out at night time is only a 10 min walk to a range of restaurants.Saturday night down by the square was a sight to see from traditional to modern day shows . I would say you will need a car (there is parking at the house) as this is in the centre of town and you will want to get out and about.We struggled to think of how we could have made our holiday any better.
