Azienda La Marena - Bibbiena
Azienda Marena has been a family estate for hundred of years. It is situated in the north-east Tuscany, in the beautiful landscape of the valley Casentino (the upper part of the valley of the river Arno), between such big cities as Florence and Arezzo. The next cities are Poppi and Bibbiena. A mighty castle towers over Poppi that is located on the hill seen from afar. Through many years the whole city was built around the castle and even nowadays many places in the historic centre remained unchanged. The main characteristic of this city are buildings with arcades. On the outskirts of Poppi there are tennis courts and just next to them a golf course with 9 holes. The Etruscan city Bibbiena is also situated on the hill where great forests with old beech trees, oaks, chestnuts or firs thrive. Nowadays Bibbiena is the centre of the valley of Casentino. In this former very lonely area came into being many monasteries in the Middle Ages. It is worth to visit Florence (55 km away) and the medieval city Arezzo (30 km away).
Marena is a typical 100ha Tuscan estate. The old cypress avenue that is off the road leads to the main building on the hill. In the 19th century Palazzo lives also the kind owner's family. The Palazzo with other outbuildings and a stylish chapel are situated in the small park with old trees. Some buildings are outhouses but the guests may explore the surroundings walking on the cart tracs and forest paths. They may also fish in the owner's pond. Moreover, on the estate there are also: a small stud, a riding hall, a riding school for children and youth (about Euro 20 per hour) and a stud with horses for adults (about 2 km away). You can also hire a mountain bike. These are not only the children that are fascinated with observing such animals on the estate as: horses, donkeys, sheep, goats, hens, geese, ducks, rabbits....
For a few years former farm workers’ houses were transformed (according to preservation order) into the holiday houses. The guests can enjoy the magnificent view over the meadows and high forest from these holiday houses.
The meeting point for all of the guests is a nice swimming pool (16 m x 8 m x 1,4 m) in a panoramic location. Its opening times are, depending on the weather, from 1.6.-20.9.. Showers boxes, changing room, deckchairs and sunshades are at the disposal of the guests. A fenced sunbathing lawn tempts to relax.
Novelty: the houses around the main house and Fienile have WLAN!
Holiday Italian language courses: Azienda Marena offers holiday language courses and intensive language courses in collaboration with the state-approved language school „Centro di Cultura Italiana Casentino Piero della Francesca“. One week courses have 2 periods Italian per day; minimum number of participants is 4. These courses can also take place on the estate. 2 week or 4 week intensive courses offer 20 periods Italian per week. The guests can choose between the courses for beginners or intensive courses. All of the courses are focused on spoken Italian.