Liguria, La Spezia, Italy

Behind the famous bays of the Cinque Terre (UNESCO World Heritage site), a beautifully appointed turn of the century Liberty style villa with outbuilding and garden.

Set in the hills inland of the Ligurian coast, the position offers easy access to the Cinque Terre (Monterosso is just 30 minutes drive).

Original features include the colourful floor tiles, large windows and high ceilings, offering bright and airy accommodation. The house has been carefully restored with energy efficiency in mind.

Entrance is from a covered portico into a hallway leading to living room with fireplace, fitted kitchen/dining room, study, and bathroom. A beautiful marble staircase leads up to the four bedrooms, second bathroom, and a panoramic terrace.

The property has a gated driveway and a garage. The outbuildings offer a covered portico area, great for dining 'al fresco', with sink, barbecue and several store rooms.

Set in a small village 10 minutes' drive from the ancient monastry town of Brugnato, now a bustling town with weekly market, shops and restaurants.

The Vara valley area is renowned for its green/eco status with many organic farms, shops and restaurants. It is accessed from the main A12 motorway running along the coast between the French Riviera and Pisa which makes this area particularly accessable, with the autostrada exit at Brugnato. Also at Brugnato is a large 'outlet village' for discount shopping of famous brands.

The main towns of the Vara region are Varese Ligure, Sesta Godano and Brugnato. Varese Ligure has been voted as one of the most beautiful villages of Italy and has a cobbled central piazza and colourful medieval round town centre. Shops, restaurants and weekly market in the town. Sesta Godano offers easy shopping along the main street and has been awarded certification for its quality of environmental management. Brugnato set on the banks of the river Vara has a pretty town centre and was also awarded the recognition as one of the prettiest Italian towns. There is rafting down the river and many marked footpaths lead up into the mountains.

You will also only be a stone’s throw away from the Cinque Terre (UNESCO World Heritage site) - five picturesque villages strung along the narrow coastline with pretty coves and beaches and boat trips between the villages. Living here you have easy access to both Genova and Pisa airports, each within an hour. The autostrada exit of Brugnato makes the whole of Liguria so easily accessible and the cultural centres of Tuscany too: Florence, Pisa, Lucca and Siena are all within easy reach, so it is perfectly located to explore the whole region.

Distances: Brugnato (autostrada, supermarkets, outlet village) 10 km, Monterosso (Cinque Terre beaches) 20 km, La Spezia 15 km, Sestri Levante 35 km, Portofino 60 km, Genova (airport) 85 km, Pisa (airport) 95 km.