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44

45

RESIDENCE LA FERRIERA

BY LAURIE CHARLES

History Meets

Hospitality in Tuscany

APRIL – JUNE 2018

RESORTDEVELOPER.COM

VACATION INDUSTRY REVIEW

Constructed in 1875, the resort, located in the Tuscan village

of Loro Ciuffenna in the province of Arezzo, has held several

functions throughout the centuries. Originally built as a metal

foundry for the production of agricultural tools, the property later

served as a flour-processing mill, silk manufacturer, power sta-

tion, and soap producer, but all work came to an end in 1969.

The structure was left abandoned for nearly three decades until

1996, when brothers and local contractors Mauro and Massimo

Rampi purchased it and brought it back to life as a timeshare

residence.

Comfort. Service. Quality. These are attributes trav-

elers expect of their resort accommodations when

they go on vacation. And while these are all solid

expectations met by Interval International–affiliated

resorts, there is one feature that captivates like a

charm: a property that embraces its storied past.

Such is the case for

Residence La Ferriera

.

From Vacation Ownership to Resort Development

Though Residence La Ferriera was the Rampi brothers’ first shared owner-

ship project, Mauro Rampi was well-acquainted with timeshare before the

decision to establish his family’s own vacation ownership property. In addi-

tion to his role as managing director at Residence La Ferriera, he sat on the

opposite end of the shared ownership spectrum as a timeshare

owner

at

Residenza Nevesole Folgarida in Trentino, Italy. “This is where I got the idea

to enter into the timeshare industry,” he says. And the rest is history.

Situated about 31 miles (50 kilometers) southeast of Florence, 19 miles

(30 kilometers) northwest of the city of Arezzo, and 37 miles (60 kilometers)

northeast of Siena, Residence La Ferriera is located in the heart of Tuscany.

A storybook village where terracotta and mustard stone houses overlook

the rocky gorge formed by the Ciuffenna River, Loro Ciuffenna transports

travelers to another era. A bridge that dates to the Middle Ages connects

the town, which is divided in two by the gorge, and leads wanderers to the

Porta dell’Orologio, or the Clock Gate, the center of the city, where ancient

churches and buildings are scattered throughout.

Tuscan Charm

While Loro Ciuffenna lures visitors with its cobblestone streets, narrow alley-

ways, and medieval architecture, Residence La Ferriera is an equal charmer.

The property was renovated by the Rampi family upon purchase, but its

19th-century appeal remained intact. Brick and stone — prominent design

elements of the region — make up the facade of the resort, and a stream

flowing from the Ciuffenna River welcomes guests to the property.

The resort consists of 19 units: 11 one-bedrooms, which range from 538

square feet (50 square meters) to 753 square feet (70 square meters), and

eight two-bedrooms that measure 753 square feet (70 square meters) to 969

square feet (90 square meters). All of the residences include internet access,

a flat-screen TV, spacious dining and living areas, and a kitchenette equipped

with a refrigerator, coffee maker, and microwave; some of the units feature a

private balcony or terrace. The aforementioned brick-and-stone motif carries

on into the apartments, where Cotto tiles, wooden beams and windowsills,

and pieces of exposed rock peek out of the walls, creating a rustic feel.

Beyond accommodations, Residence La Ferriera offers an on-site restau-

rant popular among guests and locals alike, a wine shop (“with a wide choice

of the best Tuscan wines and olive oil,” says Mauro Rampi), an outdoor