Tuscany, Lunigiana, Licciana Nardi, Italy

Lovely property set on the picturesque piazza of a lovely hillside village. The village is surrounded by chestnut woods and is a short walk from a medieval town with shops and restaurants.

The property is accessed from outside stairs to a terrace overlooking the piazza and castle,

entrance into kitchen-dining room with wood burning stove, living room, bathroom with bath

upstairs there are 2 bedrooms of which one has a walk in wardrobe (or it could be a further bathroom);

On the ground floor and level with the piazza there is a cantina (store room).

There is also a garden with some fruit trees and a small outbuilding (chicken hut) set a short distance from the house.

Set in one of the most picturesque villages of the area that has a central piazza entered through a stone archway. Licciana Nardi is just 2 km and has a selection of shops, bank, schools and restaurant/pizzeria.

Travelling shops visit the village with fresh bread and focaccia sold from the back of a van each morning but also, groceries, fish and vegetables.

Distances: The property is within the municipality of Licciana Nardi 2 km, Aulla (with train station) 12 km, ski resorts 25 km, beaches 32 km, Cinque Terre 45 km, Lucca 80 km, Pisa airport 95 km.

The main town is Licciana Nardi in the Taverone valley with 13th century pedestrian street flanked with local shops. Central in the town is the Piazza del Municipio which hosts the 16th century Malaspina castle and many festivals such as the Chestnut Festival in the autumn. The castle is linked to the baroque church by a covered bridge so that the nobles had direct access to prayer and dealings with the local priest. There are also a bank, schools, restaurants and medical facilities. The nearby village of Monti has a castle on the hill above and offers a good selection of amenities.

Lunigiana (pronounced Loonee-janna) is a magical area of Tuscany starting with its name the ‘Land of the Moon’. 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 but for lovers of the coast the sea is only half-an-hours’ drive away.

Lunigiana is special and has been likened to a magical kingdom. It is not only the breath-taking scenery with its abundance of medieval castles but you simply feel a huge sense of wellbeing radiating from the sunshine, glorious countryside, delicious food and wine, kind friendly locals and most importantly, from the sense of tradition and community amongst people here that is rarely seen in modern day life.

The golden sandy beaches around Lerici and the pebble coves of the Cinque Terre 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 within an hours’ drive.