Villa in Tuscany - try the beautiful Montecastello for a wonderful family villa holiday

Montecastello is set in the hills above Licciana Nardi which is a small town in the Taverone valley with 13th century pedestrian street flanked with local shops. Central in the town is the Piazza del Municipio, a wonderful castle and church, and the piazza hosts many festivals such as the Chestnut Festival in the autumn.

The house is fully of original features, including a 15th century arched doorway, chestnut beams, terracotta tiling and stone fireplaces.  There's a banqueting table in the dining room, and the large kitchen sits at the base of the tower.  The bedrooms are upstairs and made up of three doubles and one twin, each with ensuite bathroom and mountain views.  Outside there's a spacious covered terrace with relaxing and comfortable seating to view the stunning scenery. The terrace overlooks the swimming pool and natural woodland. At the rear of the house with total privacy lies the swimming pool. The pool area has a covered pergola to sit under out of the direct sunlight for 'al-fresco' dining, whilst at night the pool and surrounds are lit for that cooling evening dip or simply just watch the fireflies dance.

There are many great day trips that you can do from the house. Lucca is a beautiful Tuscan town protected by 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 is a beauty. 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 Contatta l'Agenzia con il servizio "Invia Richiesta" is an important center for working marble and was used as a marble source by Michelangelo. Furthermore, the art and architectural treasures of Florence are a must.

The Ligurian coastline is also 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 of Love. 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. Neighboring 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 owners of the villa can organise a private day boat trip for you, passing through some of these beautiful villages and mooring for lunch at a seaview restaurant.  

Lunigiana, the northernmost part of Tuscany, is magical. The hills which 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 Mediterranean coast. 

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