Rooms | Facilities and "Perks" | Travelling with Children?
The
Mulino
dell'Opera is an old Watermill, built in 1705; although not an hotel,
it has a total of 3 bedrooms available for guests. All accomodation
has private bathrooms. We like to think we offer a "Home from Home," and
we are proud to be members of Wolsey Lodges, the prestigious UK "Home Hospitality"
Consortium, one of only 2 in Italy. This means we are required
to adhere to certain standards; it was an effort getting in (!) but it
does mean a 'Seal of Guarantee' for you.
Accommodations: "Titania, Ariel, and Romeo"
As you've probably noticed, we're quite keen on Shakespeare
here; so, there's:
| "Titania"--a double, with
canopied bed and shower B/rm-- Honeymooners (24 to date) like it.
"I know a bank where the wild
thyme blows,
|
 |
| "Ariel"--a twin/double (can
be set up as either) with tub B/rm and Balcony.
"Where the bee sucks. there suck
I:
|
 |
| "Romeo"--a 'sort of suite'
with a smallish double upstairs, shower B/rm, kitchenette, loggia (where
we can put a spare bed and/or cot), organised for families with small children,
in mind.
"Oh then I see Queen Mab hath been with thee..."  |
 |
(PS: no prizes for guessing what the donkey is called!)
We have tried to ensure the accommodation provided meets guests' exacting requirements, whilst retaining the essential 'homeliness', which is particular to this style of holiday. The Mill hasa well-appointed sitting room and a riverside garden, of course. Adequate (but not comprehensive) cooking facilities are available in 'Romeo', sufficient for the preparation of snack-meals some guests (especially those with children) enjoy occasionally, in place of yet another gargantuan gourmet experience at the Mill, or one of our fine local restaurants.
Your English "Host", Philip Henderson, is available to provide assistance in many ways, should you need it--he'll even take you round the Villas and Gardens, if you want. Visit our "Excursions" page for details!
At the "Mulino" houseguests can dine, launder, play Boules and Lawn Badminton (perhaps with a glass--or 2--of cooling white?), enjoy with other guests a Monday night Barbecue, borrow maps/fishing rods/guidebooks, as well as use an extensive library, games and videos (plus, of course, access to the Internet--which means a morning "Daily Telegraph Crossword" if required). Horse-back riding in the Valfegana hills is available at weekends. We also have two dogs, "Portia" and "Dorcas", of indeterminate breed! We like all music, especially Opera and the Beatles, and of course the Bard of Avon ....if you hadn't noticed.
The riverside gardens cover an area of perhaps 2 acres all told, with a further hillside woodland and paddock (for our donkey "Bottom") of maybe another 3 acres - but realistically the whole river and surrounding countryside, stretching for miles, is "our garden"! There's also one BIG Extra - on warm evenings, fireflies, like fairies on Midsummer's Eve, make the dream complete...
The Fegana ,which we dam each Summer, provides a swimming-hole
and beach that many enjoy - though there is also a superb thermal Swimming
Pool at Bagni di Lucca 7 kms away and the beach - the Tuscan Riviera -
is less than an hour away by car.
Given reasonable notice, we'll be happy to cook dinner for you - the "Full Monty", 5 courses including all you can drink - whilst snack lunches and/or picnic lunches can be organised, if required. We do not charge for drinks as such, however we do sometimes charge for serving them (depends on how often!). On Monday nights we are also happy to organise a barbecue - given clement weather and demand.
Children seem to love it here. The Fegana provides endless amusement not least the catching of a few of 'our' millions of tadpoles - and indeed the occasional gecko! - and going off on expeditions along the River on journeys of deep discovery.
Of course parental guidance is necessary, but the Torrente Fegana itself is rarely more than 8 yards wide and 2 feet deep in mid-Summer - in November, it can be 50 yards and 6 feet deep of horrendously rushing water that noone needs to seek to cross! - and is both crystal clean and safe.
We enjoy having little people here (as do our dogs who are entirely 'child-friendly'), and seek to meet their particular needs - eg: cots; high chairs; baths; alarms; baby-sitting (costs € 6 per hour); etc. are all available, usually, at no supplement barring the "children's" stay, as listed. Romeo has kitchen facilities so to enable parents to prepare "small meals".
We do not charge for children under 6 for Meals taken at the Mill...whether it be dinner or barbecue.
This is our home...we hope, if you come, you'll treat it as yours as well.
