Barcis is an extremely friendly village with extremely friendly locals who go out of their way to be of assistance to visitors, as was my experience during my stay.  The location of the house is idylic; overlooking the azure waters of lake Barcis.  The house itself was beautifully restored, exuding an old world charm, and very comfortable with it.  All mod cons were on hand and the house was decorated to the highest standards.  I really liked the wood burning stove.  There’s nothing better than relaxing in front of a real fire with a glass of fine local wine after a days hiking.  For the mountain lover, this house is perfectly positioned for entry into the Dolomites.  A lap around the lake is a nice 7km stroll for those less inclined to altitude.  I hope to return, maybe for more hiking, but also to explore the ski slopes.  Linda and Kieran were extremely approachable and helpful at all times.  I highly recommend this fantastic house to anyone wanting to explore the Dolomites and the Friuli region.

Murtcr, Co. Wexford.  Ireland

April 2009

We had a very nice week in Casa Bella Vista in Barcis.  The house is very well equiped and charming.  It is looked after, clean and pleasant.  We slept very well.  Good beds.  No noise because windows close very well and Bacis is silent after 23.00 h.  Beside that it has a good temperature during the night.

Because we speak Italian we got easily connected with neighbours, and one lady brought us vegetables from her garden and asked us for coffee.  Some people also speak English.

The house has no garden, which forced us to go out and to enjoy the Dolomites as our garden, a great experience.  We swam a lot in the fresh lake in front of the house (cold water no problem for Dutch people), made bbq at the small pebblebeach and played on the enormous riverbanks.  Beautiful nature.

In the evening we red our newspaper and drunk our wine in front of the house greeting curious neighbours and enjoying lake and mountains getting mysterious during fall.  In the morning we went to Bar Centrale for coffee and brioche.

We also enjoyed food- and antiquemarkets and several very good restaurants in and around Barcis, some after a pleasant walk.

Next year we come back.

Anne (52), Violet (16) Holland

JULY 2009

The house was beautiful:  very clean, spacious and well-equipped and in a fantastic situation with views of the lake.  The town has everything you need, but is peaceful and very safe for children, with plenty of play-areas and safe cycle paths by the side of the lake.  There is plenty to do in Barcis and the immediate surroundings, but the town is also within easy reach of Venice, Cortina, Trieste and the coast at Lignano.  We had a wonderful time and will definitely be back.  Thank you!

Claire and family, Yorkshire, UK

April 2010

BARCIS is a stunning place, especially in winter, and yes it was snowing, truly magical.  We usually go every summer and stay in a hotel, until we came across ‘BELLA VISTA’.  The house was fantastic with plenty of room for all six adults.  We really enjoyed spending nights around the wood burner, sipping a glass of red wine.  The area has plenty to offer, from walks to sking.  Yes we all skied in a place called Piancavallo, a short 15 minute drive from the house - highly recommended.  I would certainly recommend a visit to ‘BELLA VISTA’ and Barcis.  It is a truly relaxing and magical place.  Linda was most helpful and we will be booking again for our summer hoiday.

Paul and family

Cardiff, Wales

Christmas 2009

It was nothing short of wonderful for us!!!  - waking up to that bella vista every morning was just breathtaking - kids were actually jumping into lake Barcis from the bridge, fishermen pulling trout from the waters and the Dolomites were truly an awesome sight to experience as well.  Cristina and Fausta took good care of us and we had a fantastic time tasting and feeling our way through the region, including a train ride from Pordenone to Venice where we spent a day.  Can’t wait to get back and stay more than just three nights to build on our memories of this great summer holiday.

Thanks again - your home in Italy is a special place.

Frank, Christine, and children

Canada

August 2009

The landscape in this part of Norteast Italy is quite unexpected, in that one drives through flat farmland with highly populous towns and villages until quite suddenly one arrives at the Alps.  Go up just a few hair-pin climbs, through a couple of long tunnels and come out the other end into a totally different world to the one you left behind.

Barcis hangs off the side of the mountain and looks quite small and sleepy when you drive in first, but by the end of our week long stay, we realised that this is a vibrant community with all necessary amenities laid on.  Indeed by the end of the week we asked ourselves, did we need to bother renting a car at all, as the Bella Vista accommodation also had everything one would require for a weeks relaxation .  being virtually in the village meant that you could run to the shop anytime you wanted for fresh bread, milk or perhaps another bottle of local wine.

We were delighted with having access to the two new bicycles which we used most days.  Although there was four or five good restaurants within easy walking distance, we also lit the bar-be-que a couple of times.

Views of the green/blue lake were the dominant feature.  We figured that perhaps the colour comes from the copper deposits to be found in the alps.  This is a very beautiful walk/cycle around the lake and where the river flows out of the Hydro electric dam, it is akin to a mini grand canyon where the river has eaten into the rock over million s of years.  For the more adventurous outdoor types there are numerous caves to be explored.

Yes, Barcis and Bella Vista is somewhere we would definitely consider re-visiting.

Mary and family, Galway, Ireland

July 2009

I thoroughly enjoyed my stay in Bella Vista Holiday Home. The house exceeded my expectations of a rented, self-catering holiday home. It is equipped with every convenience and necessity, it is tastefully decorated and has a real feel of a “home away from home”.

The views from the house of Lake Barcis and the surrounding Dolomite mountains in the Italian Alps cannot be adequately described. “Breathtaking”, “spectacular”, “magnificent”, these words may give some sense of the beauty of the place but it must be experienced directly, under changing weather and lighting conditions, to be truly appreciated.

Those who value the wonders of the natural world need only step outside the door of Bella Vista to find themselves in paradise. The village of Barcis is quaint and friendly and offers all the basic amenities necessary for a relaxed and enjoyable holiday.

I cannot think of a more pleasant way to spend a couple of hours than to stop into one of the welcoming village bars for an aperitif, followed by a 20-25 minute lakeside walk by Lake Barcis to the Ponte Antoi Osteria, where the local cuisine can be sampled in casual surroundings and at very affordable prices.

Of course all that the region of Friuli has to offer, from stunning coastline to Alpine ski resorts, from medieval towns to vibrant cities, can be accessed by car from Barcis. However, I saw little reason to leave Barcis during my holiday there. Walks by the lake, walks in the hills, peace, quiet, tranquillity, exquisite natural beauty and an opportunity to experience Italian village life, Barcis offers it all. I came home feeling relaxed and reenergised, but also eager to go back for more! I will definitely be recommending Bella Vista to my family and friends looking to rent self-catering accommodation in a beautiful location.

Fidelma, Portlaoise, Ireland

“Linda, thank you both so much for making Bella Vista one of the most enjoyable holidays I have ever had. The house is fabulous and its location really does put it in a league of its own. To wake up to that view of the lake every morning was heaven, and it was equally spectacular at night. The town itself is beautiful. We ate in the restaurant a couple of nights and the food was great and reasonably priced too.

To get to Barcis we flew into Treviso and hired a car. The car came in so handy and we used it to drive to Piancavello and went skiing for the day. We drove to Pordenone another day and took the train to Venice and stayed there for a couple of nights. It was our first time in Venice and we loved it!

We really just wanted to let you know how much we enjoyed our stay in Bella Vista and we hope to return again soon as there was so much we never got to do. Thanks again for making our stay in Bella Vista so speciaI. We found your service excellent and will be recommending Bella Vista to friends and family alike.“

Róisín, Dublin, Ireland