Tuscany, Pisa, Castelnuovo di Val di Cecina, Italy

On the ground floor of this beautiful stone farmhouse is this lovely country home, with fabulous land and views. The home is set in a quiet and peaceful location, surrounded by the green of wild nature, yet it is not far from the town of Castelnuovo Val di Cecina. Wonderful private land of six hectares (about 15 acres) with private swimming pool.

The Tuscan-style house on the raised-ground floor, of about 135 sqm, is accessed up some beautiful stone steps. It comprises a large kitchen with dining area which has the typical "focarile" fireplace, formerly the center of family life where families would socialise, cook and live together; there is also a central sitting room together with three double bedrooms and a bathroom with shower and a laundry room. Outside there are three 'cantina', useful spaces for storage and which could be used to extend the internal living area, with original windows in stone and a Tuscan brick arch. Next to the entrance, there is also a wonderful oven for bread and pizza. A short distance from the house there is a barn, half of which belongs to the property.

The farmhouse offers considerable privacy. The two owners of the building have complete independence, as the entrance to the property is on the first floor and is on the opposite side of the building.The land surrounding the house and below the house is partially flat, with some woodland and this is entirely private, owned only by this property. The private 'above ground' swimming pool is placed in front of the house and enjoys a beautiful view - it would be possible to construct an 'in-ground' pool, subject to permission, which will most likely be granted.

The house dates back to 1800 and although it has been completely renovated, it has kept the original layout and the rustic style and now offers a true slice of authentic Tuscan living. The 2.5 km unpaved access road, the 'strada bianca' is well-maintained making car access easy. Plentiful parking. Services connected. Mains water and additional private supply.

Valdicecina is quite charming with a combination of history, culture and excellent cuisine. Castelnuovo Val di Cecina is a small medieval village in the heart of Tuscany, south of Pisa, on the border between the provinces of Pisa, Siena and Grosseto. The town has ancient origins dating back to the thirteenth century and the village has preserved the ancient character and is full of antique features. The antique village is unique and is famed for its shape as a bunch of grapes, with the layout still that of a medieval town, built in sandstone, with calm little lanes, pretty chapels and sweet little piazzas. From the medieval part of Castelnuovo, the town streets are flanked with small shops and local cafes, a bank and a post office. Modern life and amenities are all within easy reach.

The countryside extends from the mountains to the east, through the vineyards gently terraced on the low hills and down to the Mediterranean scrub with pine woods and brooms to the west. The golden hills are planted with orchards, vineyards and olive groves. There are hot thermal springs with spa baths in little villages, areas of cooler woodland to stroll through and natural vents gently puff their steam from the geothermal activity through the hillsides. It is possible to take a guided tour to fully discover this unique countryside. Castelnuovo is the place to be for nature enthusiasts: from the town, there is a variety of different nature trails through enchanting historic sites, such as a bridge crossing the Pavone torrent or the scenic vista of the Val di Cornia and the Gulf of Piombino. The natural hot waters of the region are piped to the little towns and villages so the homes are heated virtually free of charge with this green energy.

The whole of Tuscany is on your doorstep. You are in easy reach of the famous hilltop towns of Volterra and San Gimignano, just 30-40 mins to the coast and there are wonderful day trips to be had in Florence, Pisa, Lucca and Siena. The international airport at Pisa is within an hour's drive.

Distances: Castelnuovo Val di Cecina 3 km, Volterra 20 km, Beaches 45 km, San Gimignano 50 km, Bolgheri 50 km, Siena 70 km, Pisa 80 km, Lucca 100 km, Florence 125 km.