Tuscany, Lunigiana, Bagnone, Italy

Detached villa with lovely views, swimming pool, and good-sized garden. Lovingly restored by the current owners the accommodation is well-maintained, light and airy throughout, with a great sense of connection with the outdoors.

Enter into spacious entrance hall, to living room with fireplace and beamed ceiling, opening to the fitted kitchen; both living room and kitchen open onto the portico, a lovely space in which to dine or relax outdoors. Two bedrooms, both opening onto a wrap-around terrace, plus bathroom, complete the ground floor. Upstairs is a third bedroom with bathroom and terrace. Downstairs is an integral garage, laundry room, bathroom, and a large basement room with windows.

Entered through a gated drive with ample parking, the lawned garden (650 sqm) is planted with fruit trees including olives and a fig. With wonderful views and pool, the garden offers many spots in which to relax and enjoy the outdoors.

The village is set between the pretty Lunigiana towns of Bagnone and Licciana Nardi, on a quiet road with outstanding views. There is an easy walk to a beautiful stream for paddling and cooling off from the hot summer sun. Bagnone is a charming medieval town dominated by a castle and a cobbled piazza is ideal for watching the local town life go by while sipping a cappuccino in one of the many cafès. A river runs through the middle of the town and cobbled lanes with interlinking archways and restaurants are hidden under the stone vaults. Shops offering local produce and the backdrop of the mountains make this a particularly pretty town in the area. Licciana Nardi is a town in the Taverone valley with 13th century pedestrian street flanked with local shops. Central in the town is the Piazza del Municipio which hosts the 16th century Malaspina castle and many festivals such as the Chestnut Festival in the autumn. The castle is linked to the baroque church by a covered bridge so that the nobles had direct access to prayer and dealings with the local priest. There are also a bank, schools, restaurants and medical facilities. The nearby village of Monti has a castle on the hill above and offers a good selection of amenities.

Lunigiana is a magical part of Tuscany. 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-hour away. The golden sandy beaches around Lerici and the pebble coves of the Cinque Terre are ideal for swimming and sailing in the summer. 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: Bagnone 7 kms, Licciana Nardi 7 kms, Aulla (supermarkets, autostrada, trains) 15 kms, Lerici (beaches) 40 kms, Lucca 90 kms, Pisa (airport) 100 kms.