Tuscany, Lunigiana, Podenzana, Italy

Lovely, recently restored, 3/4 bed house set in a hillside hamlet with stunning views, with terrace and garden. The property is at the edge of a village.

Accessed from the private courtyard the house has an entrance hall, a living room with fireplace, opening onto terrace and kitchen, larder, study/bedroom, bathroom with a hydro bath, laundry room and store room; upstairs there are two bedrooms, a bath with shower and a panoramic terrace. On the lower ground floor there are six stone cellars. Garden of 300 sqm and land of 1700 sqm.

The house has recently been restored and upgraded to be energy efficient, with PV panels and more.

Set on the hills of Podenzana with numerous restaurants serving the local traditional fare. The larger town of Aulla is just a few minutes drive. Podenzana is a series of villages strung along the hill above the town of Aulla and stretching to the other side down towards Ceparana. Podenzana is famous for panigacci and there are numerous restaurants offering this speciality. A crisp thick pancake cooked in terracotta dishes over the embers of the fire and served in baskets with cream cheese and a tray of assorted salami and ham from Parma. Sandwich them together, eat with your fingers sipping the local red wine. Delicious.

Lunigiana is a magical part of Tuscany. The hills that 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-hour away. The golden sandy beaches around Lerici and the pebble coves of the Cinque Terre are ideal for swimming and sailing. 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: Podenzana (excellent restaurants) 2 km, Aulla (autostrada, trains) 7 km, Lerici (beaches) 30 km, Cinque Terre 40 km, Lucca 90 km, Pisa (airport) 90 km.