3 bedrooms semi-detached house, 348 m²

Fosdinovo, Massa-Carrara (province)

Lunigiana

Village house from ground to roof in the heart of a medieval borgo on the sunshine hill above Sarzana, enjoying beautiful open views across the surrounding countryside and towards the coastline.

The property is accessed from the village lane on the ground floor, where a spacious double living and dining room with fireplace offers a warm and welcoming atmosphere, enhanced by lovely sea and valley views. The kitchen also benefits from independent access to the village lane, while a bathroom completes this level.

The first floor comprises three comfortable bedrooms and two bathrooms.

On the top floor there are two attic rooms, two useful storage rooms and an additional bathroom.

The basement level features a large stone-vaulted cellar with direct access to the private garden, a charming terraced outdoor space with beautiful views over the hills and towards the coast.

A characterful property full of authentic Tuscan charm, ideally located in one of the most picturesque villages of the Lunigiana hills, within easy reach of Sarzana and the Ligurian coast.

Fosdinovo is a walled town dominated by a Malaspina Castle dating back to the fourteenth century. The town is famous for its embroidery on precious linen and Pope Francis' robe was embroidered by the ladies of Fosdinovo. The town is reached by a scenic road that meanders through the olive groves above the town of Sarzana. Sarzana is a vibrant medieval market town with large elegant central piazza and cobbled lanes meandering through the town flanked with coffee shops and antique stores. During the summer months Sarzana often hosts festivals from dining in the piazza to concerts to open air events staged along the lanes. On summer evenings there is a local craft/ antique market which fills the whole town and is a joy to wander through in a welcoming atmosphere. The central castle has a number of exhibitions and events, and it too, is open on summer evenings. Sarzana also has a train station with direct trains to Pisa, Florence and the Cinque Terre.

The coastal areas of Versilia and the Gulf of the Poets are just 20 km away. 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.

Distances: Fosdinovo on the doorstep, Sarzana 15 km, Aulla 15 km, Carrara 20 km, Lerici (beaches) 20 kms, Cinque Terre 40 km, Viareggio 50 km, Lucca 70 kms, Pisa (airport) 75 kms, Florence 140 kms.