Barga, Lucca, Tuscany, Italy

The villa is perched above a set of dramatic stone terraces sweeping down to an amphitheatre of trees on the valley floor, commanding a breathtaking 180 degree view of the lofty Apuan Alps and their forested foothills.

The current owners have restored the property's original sun terraces with traditional Graniglia tilework, replastered and repainted the external walls, window blinds and installed five top quality boutique hotel style bathrooms together with a Roman style swimming pool and modern kitchen.

The Coach House, next to the swimming pool, can be readily converted for various uses. For example, a guest annexe, housekeeper's cottage, double-storey gymnasium or outdoor activity centre. A newly restored double-height artist's studio connected via a footpath to the house completes the ensemble of key buildings.

Further amenities include a wine cellar complete with vintage bottles and an astounding loggia on top of the building offering commanding panoramic views of the Serchio Valley.

Historically, Giuseppe Pieroni who built the original villa in 1911 was one of four brothers who lived and travelled between Boston and Barga in the late nineteenth century. He became the driving force in a significant restaurant empire that would last for eighty years, his villa was planned and designed, so it is said, by Italian architects in Boston.

After a period of decline in the 1970s, the villa has been reborn. Painted once more in original ochre yellow and playing host to visitors ranging from American actor Woody Harrelson to US singing legend Willy Nelson. From British TV personality Amanda Holden to comedian Alan Carr, as well as the distinguished Architect and Italian Senator, Paolo Riani (himself a descendant of the Pieroni family).

Additional features of this beautiful ochre yellow residence boasting painted frescos and emerald green blinds include a Roman style swimming pool, Limonaia, stylishly refurbished exteriors and bathrooms, two further buildings, a small eighteenth century watermill and stables for restoration.

The property offers excellent potential as a spacious family/holiday home, business or art centre comprising to the ground floor, entrance hall and reception area, spacious Salone-frescoed drawing room with grand piano, cloakroom, internal hall, glazed vestibule leading to the rear sun terrace, modern kitchen, vaulted breakfast room with stone fireplace, small dining room, second entrance hall, utility/washroom and a large office/study.

The first floor offers six bedrooms and four recently refurbished bathrooms (one en-suite) and to the second floor are two attics and a glazed roof turret/loggia.

The basement offers a stocked wine cellar with an interesting collection from the 60s, 70s and 80s and incorporates the central heating system.

Outside is a Limonaia; naturally-lit lemon storage area beneath the rear sun terrace, large rear tiled sun terrace and ten metre Roman style swimming pool. The two-storey Coach House comprises a large ground floor garage/parking space and staircase, wood store, toolroom, large room to the first floor with potential for conversion to a large living room, newly restored art studio/atelier and 40 ft loggia balcony with 270 degree superb views. The property can be approached via a private footpath.