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RESIDENCE LA FERRIERA
BY LAURIE CHARLES
History Meets
Hospitality in Tuscany
APRIL – JUNE 2018
RESORTDEVELOPER.COMVACATION 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