Journey

Belvedere Country Estate

Bellavista/Belcanto Hints for your journey

Belvedere is a very old olive farm property, which belonged to the Earls of Pisa, in Rigoli, a district of the municipality of San Giuliano Terme. The village of Rigoli is situated between Lucca (9 km) and Pisa (7 km), at the foot of Monte Pisano. The next motorway exits are Lucca and Pisa North.

Alternative 1: Trip via Florence
In case of driving through the motorway from Florence to Pisa, you should get off of the motorway by Lucca, Lucca est. Attention: the exit Lucca comes just a few 100 metres after the motorway junction in direction of Viareggio, so, take care not to branch off too early. After the toll gate, keep yourself always right and follow the small blue-white signs to Pisafor about 6 km. Then cross the tunnel (about 900 m long). At the end of the tunnel, drive down the winding road under pines and olive trees until our main town San Guiliano Terme, to whose municipality Rigoli belongs.
After the last curve you have to keep at the rightside of the road. Either you drive the first small road right, between the houses, in the middle of the town (with its semicircular street) and follow then the main street along the inclination for 3 km until you see the sign Rigoli.Or you drive another 200 m farther over the Shell gas stationuntil the crossroads. There you have to turn rightand follow the sign Luccaalong the water channel across the town. after 1 km you will see, still in town, the railway level crossing barrier in front of you. About 50 m before the barrier you have to turn right, across the small bridge.Be aware not to cross the barrier! You drive 200 m in the direction of the hill. Over there you keep yourself on the leftin direction of Lucca. After further 2 km along the hill there is the sign to Rigoli. A few 100 m after the sign you see, at the right side of the road, the walls of the palace Villa di Corliano(sign) Now you are almost there. Turn right just after the end of the walls - where the traffic mirror is.This is our private road. After 300 m up the hill, you reach the gate. Then you drive up the last 500 m, under olive trees, until you arrive direct in front of the house. The road ends up here.
Alternative 2: trip via Parma / La Spezia
If you drive from the North through La Spezia you should get off of the motorway at Pisa North,about 10 km away from our village Rigoli. Drive off of the motorway in Pisa North in direction Pisa.Take care: don't drive in direction of Florence! After 1 km you come to a small place called Migliarino.In the middle of this village there is a traffic light. On its right side there are the railway embankment and an underpass. But you have to turn leftin direction of Vecchiano, Pontasserchio and farther until you reach the locality of San Giuliano Terme. At the entrance road to San Giuliano you cross a bumpy railway level crossing. About 50 m after that, turn leftinto the first street and drive another 200 m in direction of the hill. Then turn leftin direction Lucca. After further 2 km along the hill there is, on the right side, the sign to Rigoli. A few 100 m after the sign you see, at the right side of the road, the walls of the palace Villa di Corliano(sign). Now you are almost there. Turn right at the end of the walls - (mirror is opposite)into the tiny road, This is our private road. Just drive on and on, up the hill in first gear. After 300 m you reach the gate. Please ring the bell. Then you drive up the last 500 m, under olive trees, until you arrive direct in front of the house. The road ends up here.
Alternative 3: Trip through the Gotthard-Tunnel in Switzerland
After having passed the Gotthard tunnel go ahead in direction Airolo - Como - Milano. Just before arriving in Milano take the autostrada A 1 in direction Genova - Torino. Attention in Milano!Approx. 100 m before arriving at the toll cashier the autostrada A 1 makes a bend to the right in direction Genova / Torino.Therefore: Do notpass through the cashier! After a few kilometres the autostrada ramifies in direction Genova - Torino and in direction Bologna. You have to take direction Bolognaand remain on the autostrada A 1 to Florence (Firenze).
Alternative 4 : from Pisa Aeroporto
You only need about 20 minutes from Pisa Aeroporto to Villa Belvedere. At the Aeroporto EXIT, please turn to the right and you will find all the car-rentals. When leaving this parking, keep left and you will be driving parallel to the Aeroporto building. All this is about 50 m. Now follow the SIGN Aurelia SS 1. Very soon , after the sharp turn, you are driving on a sort of Highway, called superstrada, (no sign). REMAIN on the right hand side as VERY SOON after 200 m turn sharp right at the sign PISA. Now you are driving on the Aurelia SS 1, direction north, so therefore direction Genova. After a good kilometre you are driving over the Arno bridge. Please continue straight on, passing Pisa, remaining on the Aurelia, driving through pine - trees direction north (Genova ) After about 4 km from here, there will appear on the right hand side Hotel California with the restaurant Da Sergio. Just continue straight on until the traffic lights. Turn right here, direction (sign) San Giuliano Terme. Continue until the end and turn left here. After a couple of kilometres you arrive at the village Pontasserchio, continue until the roundabout Turn sharp right, this road leads you into San Giuliano Terme. Remain for about 4 to 5 km on this road until you have driven over a rail-crossing (quite bumpy). After about 50 m take the first possible road to the leftdriving 200 m direction mountain. Turn leftagain direction Lucca. After another 3 km about, driving along the mountain, will appear the walls of Villa di Corliano.You are nearly there now. Drive slowly please, as at the end of this wall, turn sharp right.(There is a mirror on the other side of the road.) This is the beginning of our private road. Now it's going up and up for about 300 m, first gear. Please ring at the gate. Then amidst olive trees the road continues for another 500 m, until you reach the house. The road ends here.

OR

Take the shorter way
When arriving at the intersection Piacenza take the autostrada to Parma. Before arriving in Parma, at the intersection Parma Ovest, turn right in direction La Spezia, and then in direction Livorno. Exit at Pisa Nord.
Parking places
For Belcanto, there is a parking place above the house at the horse paddock for two cars. In case you arrive in the darkness, there is a light switch there. It is advised to unload at the large staircase, and then to continue to park the car. There are lights for the whole outdoor illumination at the front end of the big stairway, left on the wall. Direct under the banister. Half way you can switch it off again, and switch on the lights in order to continue to Belcanto. There is also room to park one car on a slope to the left (at the beginning) when you arrive. For Bellavista guests there is a place to park the car just along the stairway (the one with banister), which leads up left to Bellavista house. Just by the stairway there is also a light switch. Careful to fire riskPlease do not drop ANY ASHES or CIGARETTE BUTTS around. There is high fire risk.

For information, ring : + 39 050 817220 We wish you a wonderful stay. Yours, Freitag Family

Adress: Villa Belvedere Via Statale-del- Brennero 56 A IT-56017 Rigoli di San Giuliano Terme