2 bedrooms semi-detached house, 80 m²

Licciana Nardi, Massa-Carrara (province)

Lunigiana

Character, two bed, stone house within walking distance of medieval castle, shops, cafés and restaurants.

Spread over three floors, the property is entered into a large entrance hall with stone walls. A few steps up from this, there is access to a cantina (storage room) with stone walls from which there is access on to the beautiful shared courtyard. The accommodation is on the first and second floors and consists of: living-room with fireplace, corner kitchen, two bedrooms and a bathroom. The entire property has been newly renovated so the kitchen, bathroom, electrics and plumbing are all new. The property is a traditional stone Tuscan tower house and is only a few minutes walk from a café, restaurants and shops.

Licciana Nardi is a town 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.

The coastal areas of Versilia and the Gulf of the Poets are just 25 km away. Sarzana also has a train station with direct trains to Pisa, Florence and the Cinque Terre. The Gulf of the Poets is a beautiful bay guarded by a group of three islands: Palmaria, Tino and Tinetto. There are exceptional fish restaurants, as well as opportunities for sailing, canoeing, snorkelling or just relaxing on one of the beaches hidden in the craggy bays around Fiascherino or Tellaro. The easiest way to get around the gulf is by boat which runs between Lerici, La Spezia and Portovenere and on to The Cinque Terre (UNESCO World Heritage Site). The name Gulf of the Poets is from the literary connection as some of the world’s most famous poets including Shelley, Byron and DH Lawrence who all lived here at some time. Lerici and San Terenzo offer golden sandy beaches with views to the islands and pretty piazzas with cobbled lanes which host some of the best restaurants in the area. Lerici itself is dominated by the castle with the old village of coloured houses huddled on the steep hill dropping down to the sea and the marina. The little lanes of Lerici have many colourful shops and restaurants so it is the perfect place of the evening stroll, the 'passeggiata'. The area is beautiful.

Versilia is the stretch of golden sandy coast from the tip of Liguria to Viareggio. Viareggio is the southernmost Italian Riviera resort on Italy's Mediterranean coast and the largest beach town in Tuscany. Liberty style buildings housing fashionable shops, cafes, and seafood restaurants line its promenade. Viareggio is famous for the yearly Carnevale di Viareggio dating back to 1873 with large papier-mâché floats which parade along the promenade known as "Passeggiata a mare". The carnival takes place in the in the weeks preceding lent. In nearby Forte dei Marmi you can shop with the rich and famous in the upmarket designer shops in the avenues around the pretty central piazza with bars serving refreshing campari.

Lunigiana is a magical part of Tuscany. 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 and for lovers of the coast the sea is only a short hop away. The golden sandy beaches around Lerici and the pebble coves of the Cinque Terre are ideal for swimming and sailing. The area is criss-crossed with marked footpaths for walks to the hills and mountains. The airports of Pisa, Parma and Genova are each just over an hour away and there is easy access on the autostrada network to the whole of Tuscany.

Distances: Aulla 2km, Licciana Nardi 8km, Lerici (beaches) 25 kms, Cinque Terre 30 km, Lucca 70 km, Pisa (Airport) 80km, Florence 120 km.