Tuscany, Pisa, Italy

Unique, spacious property (370 sqm) with terrace, garden and land, four bedrooms, walking distance to shops and restaurant.

Beautiful, spacious house set in the heart of one of the prettiest Tuscan villages, firmly within the rolling hills, with stunning medieval architecture. The house is set in a sweet courtyard, just off one of the cobbled village lanes. Once in the courtyard, there are steps up to the large terrace which has exceptional views over the Tuscan countryside and across to the medieval village of Casciana Terme.

From the terrace, the entrance to the house is through glass double doors into the open plan kitchen/dining/living room. The kitchen is well-equipped and the living area has a central log fireplace. Also on this level is another separate reception room and a bathroom. Upstairs there are three large double bedrooms and a light modern bathroom. Upstairs, on the top level, is large attic room currently used as an additional bedroom, or equally it could be an additional living room. Stairs down from the kitchen take you to the lower ground floor, with direct access to the pretty garden. Currently used as an additional bedroom, additional kitchen and laundry room. This could easily become a self-contained flat, with independent access. Below the terrace is a little, lawned garden area.

The property is suitable to be used as a primary home and equally it has great potential for those who wish to receive an income from renting during the high season which goes from April to mid November in this region. The building is located in the heart of Casciana Alta and people can walk across the village through the narrow and ancient streets, stop for a coffee at the cafe, go to the grocery store to the post office, to the bank. All you could wish for is right on your doorstep in this typically Tuscan village.

The name Casciana Alta is to distinguish it from Casciana Terme, a spa town a few kilometers away famous for its thermal waters. Casciana is rich in history as it hosts the the remains of fortresses, palaces from the eighteenth and nineteenth century, the Municipal Theatre and the Parish Church of St Nicholas. The town is set halfway between the medieval town of Volterra and Pisa. The coast is nearby, where the reefs of Castiglioncello and the golden sandy beaches of the Versilia coast can all be accessed within half an hour. The countryside around Casciana is dotted with beautiful stone farmhouses and rustic cottages overlooking golden meadows. Don't miss the wild boar festa in May and taste the fresh pasta or slow cooked wild boar with polenta. A regional speciality. In Lajatico, close by, is the famous Teatro del Silenzio a natural open air theatre where Andrea Bocelli and some of the biggest names in opera come for a special performance.

Volterra is famous for alabaster marble, Lucca for the quiet and peaceful elegance of the walled medieval town and San Gimignano for its cobbled lanes and tall stone towers which dominate the surrounding countryside. Pisa and the Piazza dei Miracoli with the cathedral, a classic example of Romanesque architecture, the leaning tower and baptistery is well worth a visit, as is a stroll along the slow Arno river banks admiring the classic bridges. Don’t miss out on a visit to one of the many wine producers in the area and we can recommend Cantine Antinori ((Bolgheri) for an outstanding experience.

Distances: Casciana Alta on the doorstep, Casciana Terme 3 km, Coast 30 km, Volterra 30 km, San Gimignano 40 km, Pisa (airport) 35 km, Lucca 60 km, Florence 70 km.