Tuscany, Lunigiana, Villafranca in Lunigiana, Italy

Set in the pedestrian cobbled lane that leads from the central piazza to the castle of the village, this beautiful old stone house offers character accommodation with lovely views and a garden. It also includes a garage.

The property is accessed through a stone arch and into an entrance hall leading to the sitting room with fireplace, well-equipped kitchen with views, stairs lead to the bedroom and bathroom and a further steps lead up to an attic bedroom. With a separate independent entrance there are also two levels of restored, vaulted cantinas with exposed stone walls which are currently used as a living room, bedroom, bathroom and kitchen-dining room opening onto the garden with lovely views. The garden has a great patio which is perfect for barbecues, and for soaking the sun, and socialising. Below is a lawned area with steps down to the lower level where there is a garage. The property has stone vaulted ceilings and has main services.

This character property is set in the heart of a quiet village and walking distance to the town of Villafranca in Lunigiana, a town with shops, restaurants and a train station. The old centre has a selection of restaurants and local amenities including banks, supermarkets and a weekly market. A kilometer away you can visit the delightful town of Filetto. Meander your way through the entire town where you will find every street is linked to a stone passage or bridge. Filetto is best enjoyed in the month of August when it opens its doors and to host the annual medieval festival where all the villagers join in dressing up and re-enacting a bygone age.

Set in the heart of Lunigiana, a magical part of Tuscany starting with its name the ‘Land of the Moon’. The hills that encircle Lunigiana create an intimate and relaxed atmosphere whilst the blend of the mountains and sea are extremely inviting to those who enjoy the outdoors. The rolling landscape is liberally sprinkled with castles of Medici or Malaspina vintage and for lovers of the coast the sea is only half-an-hours’ drive away.

Lunigiana is special and has been likened to a magical kingdom. It is not only the breath-taking scenery with its abundance of medieval castles but you simply feel a huge sense of wellbeing radiating from the sunshine, glorious countryside, delicious food and wine, kind friendly locals and most importantly, from the sense of tradition and community amongst people here that is rarely seen in modern day life.

The golden sandy beaches around Lerici and the pebble coves of the Cinque Terre are ideal for swimming and sailing in the summer and are a short drive away. The area is criss-crossed with marked footpaths for walks to the hills and mountains. The airports of Pisa, Parma and Genova are all just over an hour away.

Distances: Aulla 10km, Pontremoli 12 km, Lerici (beaches) 30 km, Cinque Terre 40 km, Lucca 80 km, Pisa (airport) 90 km, and the cultural centres including Florence and Siena are within an easy drive or can be accessed by train.