Tuscany, Pisa, Chianni, Italy

Sunny house in the village of Rivalto, beautifully renovated with garden and loggia, fully furnished and ready to move in.

This house is the perfect base to explore the treasures of Tuscany, and offers an excellent rental opportunity. The fixtures and fittings are of high quality and easy maintenance. The house is entered into an open living room and kitchen, fully fitted and equipped with good quality units, and a peninsula which offers seating. There are two bedrooms, both of which have direct access to the garden, bathroom with new large shower. There is a wonderful covered pergola in front of the living room of the house which is perfect for outside dining. The garden is a great place to relax and is easy to maintain. The views are wide-ranging.

There is private parking.

The charming village of Rivalto, full of ancient stone houses, and with roots in Etruscan times, is still full of pretty cobbled lanes and has outstanding views. Rivalto has a coffee bar and an 'alimentari', a grocers shop, and the larger village of Chianni is nearby with a range of popular restaurants. Surrounded by chestnut woods and olive trees, Rivalto has a splendid view over the valley below. The hidden location has maintained the place virtually unchanged over centuries. The coastal towns of Castiglioncello and Cecina, the golf courses of Pisa and Castelfalfi and the historic towns of Volterra and San Gimignano are within an easy drive. Rivalto is just 5 km from Casciana Terme, famous for its thermal waters and with a newly renovated spa which is a perfect place to spend a day relaxing, with indoor and outdoor pools. Casciana is dominated by a castle, with a beautiful central piazza and since Roman times it has been famous for the curative warm thermal waters. Today it is a bustling town with a weekly market and great shops and restaurants and a famous theatre. It is halfway between the famous hilltop village of Volterra and Pisa. The area offers many activities with easy to join cooking classes, art classes, Italian language classes, wine tasting, hill walking and even Vespa tours around the rolling hills of the area.

The old town of Livorno is close too, from where it is possible to hop of the ferry to the magnificent island of Elba, just off the coast. The town is located in Valdera in Central Tuscany between Pisa and Florence. This colourful landscape of rolling hills is dotted with medieval villages, castles and lanes flanked with tall dark green cypress trees, all of which epitomizes the Tuscan landscape. The nearby città d’arte (cities of art) include Volterra, San Gimignano, Palaia and Florence, each offering splendid art and architecture to admire. In Lajatico, Andrea Bocelli, the famous tenor, was born and it is in the heart of Valdera that his Teatro del Silenzio (the Theatre of Silence) draws some of the biggest names in opera, when he hosts a summer festival each year in July. The friendly community is ready to welcome you in and there are so many great places within easy reach - it really is a great spot from which to explore the whole of Tuscany.

Distances: Walk to shops and restaurants in the village, Casciana Terme 5 km, Pontedera (trains, supermarkets) 20 km, Pisa (airport) 35 km, Cecina (beaches) 35 km, Volterra 40 km, San Gimignano 50 km, Lucca 70 km, Florence 80 km.