Tuscany, Lunigiana, Fivizzano, Italy

Offering privacy, this detached villa with three bedrooms and bright, spacious rooms has charm. In a pretty setting, there is a large terrace, a balcony, surrounding land and private parking and garage.

On the ground floor in the living room and kitchen, large bathroom with bath and shower which is new, laundry/store room; upstairs is a large bedroom with parquet floor and a further two bedrooms which access the balcony. Below the house is a 'cantina' for storage and a garage. The house is presented in good condition throughout, having been restored in 2001.

There is an outbuilding on the land of two rooms, around 8m x 3m. The garden is large with plenty of space for a swimming pool (subject to planning). There is a possibility of also buying an additional olive grove nearby, but not attached to this land, by separate negotiation.

The village of Monzone is close by, within walking distance, so it is possible to walk to catch a train. The property is in a little village, close to Equi Terme, which is a pretty place, a thermal spa town, with a river running through it and with a large open air swimming pool. There are excellent local restaurants and shops in the village, and a train station within an easy walk. There are caves and grottos with stalagtites and stalacmites which welcome visitors and at Christmas time the whole village is alive with a special festival which attracts visitors from all around.

The town of Fivizzano (10km) has a central cobbled piazza and is often referred to as the Florence of Lunigiana. The bustling town hosts many cultural events over the summer with concerts in the piazza and reenactments of medieval parades. With its musical heritage the town also attracts international musicians during its annual music festival. There is a hospital, shops and restaurants in the town. In the other direction, towards the sea, is Fosdinovo (20 km), a walled town dominated by a stunning Malaspina Castle dating back to the fourteenth century. The town is famous for embroidery on precious linen and Pope Francis’s robe was embroidered by the ladies of Fosdinovo. The town overlooks the beaches of the Versilia coast and it is reached by a scenic road which meanders through the olive groves above the market town of Sarzana.

Lunigiana is a magical part of Tuscany. The rolling landscape is liberally sprinkled with castles of Medici or Malaspina vintage but for lovers of the coast the sea is only 30-40 mins. The golden sandy beaches around Lerici and the pebble coves of the Cinque Terre (UNESCO World Heritage site) are ideal for swimming and sailing in the summer while the snow clad mountains offer skiing in the local resorts during the winter months and are each a short drive away. 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: Monzone (with train station) 2 km, Equi Terme (spa town with train station) 4 km, Fivizzano 15km, Aulla (autostrada) 20km, Fosdinovo 20km, Lerici (beaches) 40km, Cinque Terre 45km, Lucca 90km, Pisa (airport) 90km, Parma (airport) 100km.