Tuscany, Lunigiana, Fosdinovo, Italy

Charming property with three bedrooms (including a loft room), a beautiful garden in a tranquil spot in the Lunigiana countryside, yet within easy distance of all amenities and the spectacular Ligurian coastline. Private driveway and parking.

Lovely house (104 sqm), full of character, set in a private location, with garden and countryside views in the Lunigiana hills, with easy access to the hilltop village of Fosdinovo and the spectacular Ligurian coast. The house has a charming rustic quality, with great space inside and out, for perfect summer living. A few steps lead up to the front entrance of the house into a good well-equipped, sunny kitchen with table. There is a small sitting room on this floor and also two good double bedrooms and a modern bathroom with shower. Upstairs is a lovely studio room/ third bedroom which is light and airy with windows on two sides. There are exposed stone walls, terracotta floors and plenty of quirky touches.

On the ground floor, below and with independent access, are a number of 'cantina' which currently serve as utility room and store rooms and here there is an additional, new bathroom, so this space now offers a variety of uses and it could easily become a guest annexe. In the garden there is a detached building used for storage of 16 sqm and a wonderful authentic pizza oven, perfect for a fun evening with friends. The garden of 400 sqm has a number of lovely terraces and seating areas allowing plenty of space for a family and friends to come together or for each to do their own thing. There is a sense of peace and tranquility with no traffic and perfect countryside air. The garden is nicely terraced and beautifully planted. There is good, easy car access and a private driveway. Wood burning stove and central heating throughout, so it is excellent for year round use.

The coastal areas of Versilia and the Gulf of the Poets are just 20 km away. Sarzana also has a train station with direct trains to Pisa, Florence and the Cinque Terre. The Gulf of the Poets is a beautiful bay guarded by a group of three islands: Palmaria, Tino and Tinetto. There are exceptional fish restaurants, as well as opportunities for sailing, canoeing, snorkelling or just relaxing on one of the beaches hidden in the craggy bays around Fiascherino or Tellaro. The easiest way to get around the gulf is by boat which runs between Lerici, La Spezia and Portovenere and on to The Cinque Terre (UNESCO World Heritage Site). The name Gulf of the Poets is from the literary connection as some of the world’s most famous poets including Shelley, Byron and DH Lawrence who all lived here at some time. Lerici and San Terenzo offer golden sandy beaches with views to the islands and pretty piazzas with cobbled lanes which host some of the best restaurants in the area. Lerici itself is dominated by the castle with the old village of coloured houses huddled on the steep hill dropping down to the sea and the marina. The little lanes of Lerici have many colourful shops and restaurants so it is the perfect place of the evening stroll, the 'passeggiata'. The area is beautiful.

Versilia is the stretch of golden sandy coast from the tip of Liguria to Viareggio. Viareggio is the southernmost Italian Riviera resort on Italy's Mediterranean coast and the largest beach town in Tuscany. Liberty style buildings housing fashionable shops, cafes, and seafood restaurants line its promenade. Viareggio is famous for the yearly Carnevale di Viareggio dating back to 1873 with large papier-mâché floats which parade along the promenade known as "Passeggiata a mare". The carnival takes place in the in the weeks preceding lent. In nearby Forte dei Marmi you can shop with the rich and famous in the upmarket designer shops in the avenues around the pretty central piazza with bars serving refreshing campari.

Distances: Aulla 8 km, Sarzana 10 kms, Lerici (beaches) 20 kms, Cinque Terre 35 km, Lucca 70 kms, Pisa (airport) 75 kms, Florence 140 kms.