Tuscany, Lunigiana, Casola in Lunigiana, Italy

Character property that has been beautifully restored offering style and character.

Set in a lovely position at the edge of a village with superb views over the surrounding valleys and Apuan mountains

The property, once the gate house, is entered off the quiet village lane to a spacious entrance hall with wide steps leading down to an open plan kitchen - dining room - living room with arches to a second living room opening onto a large terrace of 30 sqm with views. The living room has a wood burning stove for cosy evenings. There is also a cantina store room on this level.

Upstairs are three bedrooms, two with ensuite bathroom and terrace, while the third bedroom (currently used as a study) has an ensuite WC.

The property is in immaculate condition and has central heating.

There is ample free parking in the village and an agriturismo in the village serving delicious home made pasta dishes.

Set on the border between Lunigiana and Garfagnana in a small medieval village cresting a hill. The town of Gramolazzo is just 7 km and offers a selection of shops and restaurants and is on the shores of a pretty lake. Pieve San Lorenzo (train station to Lucca) is 10 km and Piazza al Serchio (also train station to Lucca) with supermarket and shops is 15 km.

There are many great day trips to explore. Lucca is a beautiful Tuscan town protected by massively thick 16th-century walls, featuring some of Italy's finest medieval and Renaissance architecture, superb dining, antique markets, classical and rock music at the Lucca Summer Festival and with easy access to stunning nearby villas in the surrounding hills. The central Piazza dell'Anfiteatro in the centre is stunning. Pietrasanta is a historic medieval and artistic town in northern Tuscany sometimes called the City of the Artists or Small Athens for its marble studios and monuments. It is an important centre for working marble and was used as a marble source by Michelangelo. And, of course, the art and architectural treasures of Florence are a must.

The Ligurian coastline is within easy reach. The Cinque Terre (UNESCO World Heritage site) is made up of the five fishing villages: Monterosso, Vernazza, Corniglia, Manarola, Riomaggiore and the 18km of coastal walks along the old mule-tracks between them, the most famous of which is the Via dell’Amore. Just south of the Cinque Terre is Portovenere where you can catch a ferry to the Cinque Terre or to Lerici, swim at Byron’s Bay or visit one of the islands Palmaria, Tino or Tinetto. The villages of Lerici and San Terenzo, each with impressive castles, face each other across the Gulf of the Poets and Tellaro has been named as one of the top 100 most beautiful hamlets in Italy. Neighbouring Fiascherino is just as beautiful. In addition to being known as a seaside tourist town, Viareggio is famous for its Carnival in February and the Puccini Festival during July and August. So the Ligurian coastline offers endless possibilities for days swimming or sailing, or for catching a boat trip or for simply taking a 'passeggiata al mare' and sipping an aperitivo.

The Ligurian coastline is special and Lunigiana, the northernmost part of Tuscany, is magical. The rolling landscape is liberally sprinkled with castles of Medici or Malaspina vintage and the year round calendar of festivals offer wonderful local specialities to try in each of the ancient towns and villages. The airports of Pisa, Parma and Genova are all just over an hour away.

Distances: Gramolazzo (shops, restaurants) 7 km, Piazza al Serchio (train station, supermarket and shops) 15 km, Lucca 75 km, the coast is 40 km and skiing at Cerreto Lagi is 42 km, Pisa airport 100 km.