Tuscany, romantic hilltop hideaway

The house newly is renovated (2012) and is set in a medieval village at the foothills of the Apennines, surrounded by chestnut forests and olive groves, it makes a wonderful base to explore Tuscany. The entrance of the property is the terrace which has magnificent views of the Lunigiana valley. The door of the house opens into the typical Italian hallway, there is central heating throughout. The kitchen is equipped with cooker, fridge and microwave. The sitting room has a comfortable sofa bed and LCD TV and SATELLITAR TV . The bedroom has a double bed.For YOUNG CHILDREN:a little bed and a high chair. The bathroom has shower, bidet, toilet and hand basin. The terrace is spacious and has a vine shaded area for dining alfresco or simply enjoying the beautiful view. This property is perfect for people who want to experience local village life, it is a wonderful place to relax, ideal for romantics just wanting to enjoy Tuscany. The bathroom has shower, bidet, toilet and hand basin. The terrace is spacious and has a vine shaded area for dining alfresco or simply enjoying the beautiful view. Culture and History : The region is scattered with castles built by the Malaspina family, the Brunella fortress of Aulla houses theLunigiana Museum of natural History. Genoa; European capital of culture for 2004 is 1hr drive and well worth a visit. Florence is 1.5hrs drive or you can take the train from Villafranca Lucca 1hr drive a delightful city; hire a bike and pedal around the city walls. Parma or Genoa are both 1hr away for the opera.CINQUE TERRE at 40 min drive.PISA and LUCCA at 45 min. drive .Marble's quarries of CARRARA at 45 min. drive. Sports and leisure nearby : there are sandy beaches at Marinella and Marina di Massa. There is an excellent open air olympic size swimming pool in Villafranca (10min) with a high diving board, water fountains and children's pools. If you prefer swimming in freshwater there are many freshwater rock pools, made by the fast flowing water from melting snow. There is a tennis club in Villafranca with indoor and outdoor courts. The nearest ski resort is Zeri half an hours drive. Botanical gardens 30min. Mountain and forest walks right outside your door. The high meadows are abundant with flowers and heavy with their perfume. Parma is 1 hr away for the nearest Seria A football team. CINQUE TERRE at 40 min drive. Swimming pool at 5 km. CHILDREN can to play freely on the village whithout to be afraid of road traffic. A walk on the forest...out of village. Kitchen garden with vegetables to pick up free. 2 bottles of our wine free, every week of stay. Lunigiana and Liguria : Lunigiana unknown to the crowds, yet close to Florence, Pisa and the Cinque Terre, in this sunlit land of chestnut covered hills crowned by medieval villages you will enjoy the very best of Italy - wonderful landscapes, good food and a warm Italian welcome, the northern corner of Tuscany, an unspoiled area of breathtaking natural beauty set between the Apennine mountains and the Mediterranean sea. Lunigiana links the Gulf of Poets(where Shelley drowned, Byron swam and D. H. Lawrence meditated on his next book) and the coastal province of Liguria. The region is dominated by the mountains of the Parco Alpi Apuane (from where Michelangelo choose the marble for his statues). The marble quarries 45min by car are open to visitors. Kitchen garden where the guest can freely pick up the vegetable and fruits. A terrace with astonishing view of Lunigiana valley. Olimpionic swimming pool, tennis courts at 5 km. The village is sorrounded by chestnut forest and near medieval villages of Lunigiana such as Malgrate, Bagnone, Pontremoli, Mulazzo, Fivizzano etc. A car is needed.