Tuscany, Lunigiana, Licciana Nardi, Italy

Detached and spacious house on the edge of the village of Monti, in the Tavorone valley, in the Lunigiana area of northern Tuscany. Monti has some good country restaurants and a pizzeria, an excellent ice cream shop, coffee bars, good local grocery shops, a pharmacy and a medical centre. There is a very friendly and welcoming community which organise some excellent 'festas', where all are welcome, throughout the year. The main town of Aulla is only 10 minutes away.

Approached through a gated, private driveway this is a substantial (340 sqm) detached four bed villa with large rooms, full of light with an easy flow and with a pretty, fenced garden. There is scope for a swimming pool. The villa is currently arranged as a main property with great living space and three large bedrooms, and an additional guest unit with one bedroom.

The spacious entrance hall has double doors to the living room, with an impressive open fireplace, and access to the balcony. The dining room, too, has double doors which access the balcony so there is a great connection between inside and out, and the feeling is light and airy. The balcony has a good sense of privacy and seclusion and is a lovely place to sit out with a morning coffee.The large kitchen has ample space for a dining table and chairs and there is a small study. The three large bedrooms are also on this level, and two bathrooms, one with shower and one with bath.

Downstairs is a guest unit with a large entrance hall, double bedroom and an additional bathroom.

There is a good loft space (with low height of 1.5m) for storage, accessed via an external staircase and there is a good cantina accessed from stairs by the kitchen.

Private, gated driveway and ample covered parking. The garden extends to the front and back of the house and is prettily planted, with some trees offering shade and a sense of seclusion. You are in the village, but yet still private.

The property is set in a quiet and calm residential area, on the edge of the village of Monti. There are far-reaching views towards the Apuane mountains. It is easy to walk into the village where there are shops, a good pizzeria, restaurants, a chemist, 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 (6 km) which has a good range of larger shops, a railway station and motorway access (A15).

Just 3 km up the valley from Monti 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: Licciana Nardi 3 kms, Aulla 6 kms, Lerici (beaches) 30 kms, Cinque Terre 40 km, Lucca 80 kms, Pisa (airport) 85 kms, Florence 150 kms.