Full Description
Magnificent property in a central village location, with gardens, pool, terraces and views to the Apuane mountains. The property offers flexible accommodation for a large family or for business use.
The property is currently run as a B&B (3 letting rooms plus 2/3 staff bedrooms) plus an independent 2-bedroom apartment. The property would also lend itself for use as a large family home, with a separate guest or letting unit. There is an abbundance of character features throughout.
The Doctor's House:
Entered from the ancient pedestrian lane via a stone-flagged courtyard, to a spacious entrance hall with original cotto floors and high ceiling. Magnificent living room with frescoed ceiling, original cotto floor and doors to terrace 1. Fitted-kitchen with hard-wood surfaces. Office / reception room, second large living room with fireplace, plus a cosy snug with fireplace, wood half-panelling and cotto flooring. Three ensuite bedrooms, one with feature box-wood ceiling, mosaic floor and door to terrace 1. Each is light and airy, with high ceilings and large windows, and all are fitted with modern en-suite shower rooms. Two additional double bedrooms, and a single bedroom / study, curently used as laundry / storage. Second terrace with marble sink and views to the Apuane mountains. Additional shower room and WC. Large attics offer the potential for additional accommodation, subject to planning consents.
Stone staircase with access to main terrace, linking to:
The School House:
Elegant and spacious kitchen / living room (the former school room) with tiled floor, frescoed ceiling, and original marble sink incorparated into the fitted kitchen. Two double bedrooms - one is the former kitchen with character elements remaining, the other bright and airy, with double aspect windows. Steps down to bathroom with shower. This property has its own entrance from the street, and can be used as a seperate unit.
Outside
Large stone-flagged terrace with views to the Apuane mountains, providing ample space for dining or relaxing with an apperitivo. Sizable level garden with fruit trees, above ground pool and solar shower. The original well is a fascinating historical feature of the garden. Two large cantinas can be accessed directly from the grounds, offering both storage and the poterntial for further development subject to usual consents. A second small garden area, accessed from the lane, would be ideal for an orto (kitchen-garden).
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Further cantinas include a beautiful and historic wine-cellar complex with cobbled floor and vaulted ceilings. Two additional cantinas provide storage.
Walking distance to shops, restaurants and coffee bars and only 5 km to Aulla where there is the autostrada and a train station, to connect to the beaches and the whole of Tuscany. All services are in place - the owners have installed new gas central heating, WiFi, electrics and plumbing -and most furniture included in the sale. Car parking is available directly adjacent to the property.
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 village of Monti has a castle on the hill above and offers a good selection of amenities.
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: Monti, with shops, restaurants, coffee bars on the doorstep, Licciana Nardi 3 km, Aulla (autostrada) 5 km, Lerici (beaches) 30 km, Cinque Terre (UNESCO) 40 km, Pisa (airport) 95 km, Lucca 95 km, Florence 150 km.
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