Tuscany, Lunigiana, Licciana Nardi, Italy

Detached village house with garden and garage within walking distance of local amenities.

Offering good-sized accommodation and attractive outdoor space, the property would benefit from modernisation, providing an excellent opportunity for buyers to update and personalise the home to their own requirements.

Accommodation comprises: spacious living room with fireplace and a kitchen. On the first floor are three bedrooms, a bathroom, and an additional entrance from the rear of the house.

With easy car access, the property is accessed via a gated entrance leading to a private courtyard and garage. The garden is broadly level, with paved areas for sitting, and with mature trees offering shade and privacy. There are porticos offering sheltered spaces in which to connect with the outdoors, plus a roof terrace with commanding views of the surrounding area.

Set at the edge of the little town of Monti - also known by its Roman name of Venelia - the village is a friendly place with a selection of shops, a good pizzeria, restaurants, bakers, a chemist, vet, banks and coffee bars. The village is dominated by an impressive Malaspina castle fortress which sits at the top of the hill above the village and can be seen from all around. A local bus service provides transport to Aulla (5 km) which has a good range of larger shops, a railway station and motorway access.

Just 3 km up the valley from Monti - a lovely walk through vineyards and along the river - is the town of Licciana Nardi in the Taverone valley with 13th century pedestrian street flanked with local shops. Central in the town is the Piazza del Municipio, the 16th century castle and church and the piazza hosts 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. Lunigiana is a magical part of Tuscany. The hills which 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. The beaches around Lerici are beautiful, especially the little cove hidden behind Lerici castle. The long stretch of wide sandy beaches which starts at Marinella and runs all the way down to Pisa offers all sorts of watersports: surfing, windsurfing and with kayaks, boats and pedalos for hire. The magical Cinque Terre is a string of five fishing villages set along the sea cliffs offer the opportunity for great walks, or for idling in the seafront restaurants and stopping by for an aperitivo in one of the friendly bars. The Cinque Terre is a site of national importance and is listed with UNESCO World Heritage. Excellent days out can be spent at the Tuscan 'cities of art' of Lucca, Florence and Siena. All are easily accessible on the autostrada network, or by train from Aulla. Pisa airport is only one hour away and is an easy drive directly on the Pisa- Aulla motorway network.

Distances: Monti on the doorstep, Licciana Nardi 3 kms, Aulla (autostrada, supermarkets, trains) 5 kms, Lerici (beaches) 30 kms, Cinque Terre 40 km, Lucca 80 kms, Pisa (airport) 90 kms, Florence 150 kms.