The village of Saturnana, situated on the right bank of the torrent Ombrone, is very ancient. The place-name "Saturnana" is probably of etruscan derivation and a few finds occasionally discovered at Caroggio, a locality in the surroundings of this village, denote installations of primitive ligurian populations, who inhabited this area in the II century b.c. The parish church of Saint Giovanni Battista at Saturnana is remembered first in a parchment dated 989, with the name of the titular saint: plebs s.iohannis sita satornana. The parish, which has been built on a long and winding way opened in the longobard period, maybe already existed in the VII century and it was a stop station for the voyagers who went along this road.

Pistoia Firenze km 32 Pisa km 62 Lucca km 38 Vinci km 27 Siena km 110 Livorno km 81 Viareggio km 98 Bologna km 61 San Gimignano km 103

Treetop House An enchanted place that has always left a lasting impression with our guests, young and old alike. A Swimming Pool with a View A swimming pool commanding a view right across the valley, a roomy sundeck area fitted out with chairs, tables, deckchairs and parasols. Holidays with Children Within easy reach are Pistoia Zoo and Collodi, the Pinocchio Park. 10% discounts for guests staying with us!

OUR FURRY AND FEATHERY FRIENDS A stay at our farm holiday resort offers a unique opportunity for your children to get closer to nature, to develop their love and respect for it, and to learn not just about the natural rhythms of our Tuscan countryside, but about its animals at first hand. While staying at our Farm Holiday Resort near Pistoia, you will have a chance to meet all our two-legged and four-legged friends! Our sweetheart Amy, a black mongrel bitch who joined our family some years ago. She has a very gentle temperament and is very quiet and reserved, but always welcomes a pat from the children, be they young or old, who are staying with us. Schizzo and Seppia are two fine horses: mother and son have two very different characters. Schizzo is a bit of a young hothead, while dearest Seppia is much more amiable and, even though it may sound like a strange thing to say about a horse, she has a very kind disposition. Both of them would be delighted if, when you stop by their ‘cottage’, you feel like offering them a little hay... there’s always some at hand in their stable. Biagio is our cat and, like a lot of his kind, he is rather independent-minded. But he’s always ready for a stroke from anyone crossing his path. And finally our hens ... a numerous flock of two-legged ladies rummaging about in our hen run. They always have a supply of fresh grass to peck and a fresh patch of land to explore in search of those insects they find so delicious. The eggs they bring us - which you are free to take - are particularly good and are the genuine article! Barbicaio farm holiday resort has always been pet-friendly and is the perfect destination for a children’s holiday with animals. Your pets are not just ‘allowed’; they are positively welcome!

ENVIRONS OF THE FARM HOLIDAY RESORT Apart from Tuscany’s most famous cities of artistic heritage such as Florence, Pisa, Lucca and Vinci, we would like to suggest some other destinations in our neighbourhood: Cutigliano, a quaint historic village of the Pistoia Apennines Lake Scaffaiolo This mirror of water reflecting the green peaks of the Pistoia Mountains has been a destination for travellers and hikers since ancient times The Versilia coastline Vinci and San Miniato The townships of Valdinievole The Francigena Way Special Destinations for Holidays with Children Pistoia Zoo Pistoia Zoo Located about 10 minutes from our farm holiday resort, this is one of Italy’s leading zoos. Apart from its 600 animals including mammals, reptiles, birds and amphibians, it also has spacious picnic areas, a bar/restaurant and a play park for children. “Collodi”: The Pinocchio Park Opened in 1956, this is more than just your usual amusement park for children; it is a valuable collective creation made by the hands of notable artists. The park also hosts cultural activities that are continuously updated. Within the park itself, one can often find exhibitions of art inspired by the story of Pinocchio, puppet and marionette shows.

Our farm holiday resort comprises four apartments. All our guests may make use of the various facilities in the reception area, without any time constraints: the treetop house, the swimming pool with a view, ping-pong and other areas equipped for recreation across the farm holiday resort. We understand the needs of a young family on holiday. Which is why additional camping beds with linen, and high chairs, are available for each apartment at no extra charge. All our apartments are independent and each one is fully immersed in our verdant surroundings. This means that even during the hot summer months you will find cool, refreshing environments, while our excellent heating systems will keep you warm in winter. The apartments are furnished in the traditional, rustic and simple style typical of the homesteads around our Tuscan countryside. This is not an opulent style, but is made up of objects deriving from ancient tradition and the artistic crafts of everyday life. This is why the materials we use are dominated by stoneware, wood, wrought iron and terracotta. It is indeed our aim, whether in our building renovation or in our choice of interior furnishings, to maintain and to regenerate the traditions of Tuscan cottage life and to preserve the harmony with nature that embraces these apartments. All of the farm holiday resort apartments have a covered private car port, a spacious sunbathing area where silence and relaxation is guaranteed, with only the sounds of nature around you. Each holiday apartment is equipped with a barbeque, an indispensable medium that will help you experience the charm of living in nature to the full. The outdoor spaces around the farm holiday resort are ideal for tasting the enchantment of lunch or supper in the open air, perhaps accompanied by one of the excellent wines to be found in our region.

In the reception area you will also find our main attractions: A swimming pool with a view right across the valley, beside which are roomy areas fitted out with chairs, tables, deckchairs and parasols. Our famed treetop house, an example of bio-architecture constructed entirely out of timber sourced locally in our mountains. For many, our tree-house is a dream come true... every child dreams of a place all their own where they can play, let imagination fly and live a reality better than that of every day. This was the conception behind the design of our little house, and it has turned into an ideal refuge for dreamers both old and young. The play area for our younger guests by the reception you will find a spacious area of green equipped for children, with swings, slides and other fun facilities. The reception area also contains a convenient free Wi-Fi zone.

The farm produces and offers typical products as honey, nuts, chestnuts and olive oil.

Our farm holiday resort comprises four apartments, all located in the hillside village of Saturnana; they are distributed over a couple of kilometres. This makes them suitable for larger groups. They would be ideal, for example, for groups of families who want to share their holiday fun with friends, while still retaining their private family space. The apartments are called ‘La Cascia’, ‘Il Cerchiaio’, ‘Il Picchio’ and ‘Il Mulino di Nelle’.

Apartment ‘La Cascia’ ‘La Cascia’ is a fully independent apartment forming part of the same old farmhouse building where the reception of the farm holiday resort is located. The holiday apartment comprises two double bedrooms, one single bedroom, two bathrooms with shower, a lounge with satellite television, and a kitchen block fully equipped with linen cooking and tableware. As this apartment is in the same building as the reception, all of our attractions, such as the tree-house, the scenic swimming pool and other recreational facilities are right on the doorstep. In front of the entrance to the apartment is its private barbeque area, with a wooden gazebo from which the whole panorama across the valley can be viewed. The gazebo is for the exclusive benefit of the occupants of this apartment and is suitable both for relaxation, perhaps in the company of a good book, or it could be set out for an open air lunch party, or - best of all - an evening meal under the stars. The apartment also has its own private covered car port.

Apartment ‘Il Cerchiaio’ ‘Il Cerchiaio’ is located approximately one hundred metres from the reception and is a storeyed construction that has been completely renovated. It contains two double bedrooms, to bathrooms, one of which has a shower, a kitchen fully equipped with cooking ware, cutlery and linen, a lounge with satellite television and a small children’s corner. Outside, the apartment is completely encircled in a typical olive grove landscape; it has a private garden with a barbeque and a lovely wooden table ideal for enjoying your lunches and suppers in the open air while you are on holiday. This is rounded off by a private parking space.

Apartment ‘Il Picchio’ ‘Il Picchio’ is an old barn that has been completely renovated. It comprises a treble bedroom, a kitchen fully equipped with linen, cooking and tableware, one single bedroom, two bathrooms with shower and a lounge with satellite television. Outside the apartment is a spacious sundeck area, completely immersed in the green countryside. Apart from the private barbeque, there is a gazebo furnished with table and chairs, ideal for enjoying the quiet of the country, relaxing, or for outdoor lunches and suppers. It also has a private parking space.

Apartment ‘Il Mulino di Nelle’ ‘Il Mulino di Nelle’ is next door to ‘Il Picchio’, so it is also around four or five minutes from the reception by car. This is an antique stone-built mill that has been completely restored. It comprises a fully equipped kitchen with linen and tableware, a spacious lounge with satellite television, fireplace and play corner for the children, two bathrooms with shower and two double bedrooms. One of the two bedrooms is very roomy and so if required it could also accomodate an additional single bed. The other double bedroom is less roomy but is very comfortable nonetheless. Outside the apartment and cottage is a spacious green area with a sunbathing area, private parking, private barbeque and a very romantic gazebo.

How to get there The Barbicaio and Abbaino farm holiday resort is situated close to Pistoia (approx. 10 km). More precisely, the farm holiday resort is in Saturnana, an ancient hillside village with a view across the valley extending from Pistoia to Florence. To find us, take the Pistoia exit from the A11 motorway. Having passed through the toll booth, turn left towards Porretta-Abetone. Carry on along the Pistoia ring road (raccordo) heading towards Bologna and then take the exit for Modena-Abetone. Having followed a bend to the right, close to San Felice, turn right heading towards Via Modenese. After about one hundred metres you come to a fork: take the left-hand road Via San Felice e Piteccio. After about 2 km, you will find signs for Saturnana, ‘Le Grazie’. Take the road marked Saturnana and after about 4 km of bends, having passed the parish church, you will find a large signpost on the right marked “Agriturismo Barbicaio”. Drive down the slope and you will find the old farmhouse with our reception inside.