Liguria, La Spezia, Sarzana, Italy

A rare opportunity to acquire a recently renovated property in the heart of Sarzana’s historic centre. The property of historic intrest occupies a portion of an ancient medieval tower and has been restored with exceptional attention to detail. The renovation preserves the original architecture, including the historic stone walls, combining modern comforts with authentic charm.

Situated on the second (the top) floor, the home offers bright, spacious rooms: a large living room with a fireplace, perfect for relaxing, a functional and inviting kitchen, two bedrooms, and two modern, beautifully finished bathrooms.

The windows, overlooking the rooftops of the historic centre and the surrounding hills, offer unique views and a timeless atmosphere. The location is just a few steps away from restaurants, shops and services, and is perfect for those who want to live in the heart of a medieval town rich in history and charm and yet on a quiet backstreet.

Sarzana is a vibrant medieval market town with large elegant central piazzas and cobbled lanes meandering through the town flanked with coffee shops and antique stores. During the summer months Sarzana hosts a variety of festivals, from dining in the piazza to concerts and open air events along the lanes. There is a wonderful atmosphere on summer evenings when there are many street antique markets throughout the town, often with musicians playing and the castle is open to visitors. Sarzana also has a train station, just a few mins from this apartment, with direct trains to Pisa, Florence, the Cinque Terre and Genova (Genoa). A busy general market takes over the town each Thursday.

Both the coastal areas of Versilia and the Gulf of the Poets are 7 km away with good public transport connections. The golden sandy beaches look out to the islands, to Portovenere and the castles of San Terenzo and Lerici. The Gulf of The Poets, a pearl of the Mediterranean, with character villages, craggy coves and sandy beaches, is enchanting. It has been home to many poets and writers over the years including Shelley, Byron and DH Lawrence. There is great sailing around this coastline, with the Cinque Terre, Elba and the Tuscan islands are all within easy reach. Both Lerici and San Terenzo are dominated by the castle with the old villages of pastel coloured buildings clustered on the steep hills dropping down to the sea and the marina. There are many colourful shops and restaurants and it is an ideal place to relax and explore. The easiest way to get around the gulf is by boat which run between Lerici, La Spezia, Portovenere and on to The Cinque Terre. These five villages are strung along the terraced cliffs and form a UNESCO World Heritage site which, until recently, could only be reached by boat or by train. Anyone visiting the Cinque Terre should take a walk along the cliff paths which link one village to the next, stop in one of the bars or restaurants and try the anchovies marinated in olive oil and garlic, served with bread and delicate white wine made from the grapes which grow up the steep terraces above the villages.

Distances: Sarzana (trains, shops, restaurants) a few steps, Lerici (beaches) 7 km, Cinque Terre 35 kms, Forte dei Marmi 35 km, Viareggio 40 km, Lucca 65 km, Pisa (airport) 65 km, Florence 130 km.