Pescaglia, Tuscany, Address available on request

This property is a hamlet of an historic farmhouse and three cottages situated in a beautiful wooded valley in the Lucca hills, at the start of the Garfagnana National Park. 

The houses date from the mid 1700s and have many original features, including exposed stone walls and original ceilings with chestnut beams and cotto tiles. The property is set in three and a half hectares of pine and chestnut wood, with over 100 abundant olive trees and other fruit trees, with beautiful views over the valley. The small swimming pool and its sun terrace seem to hover over the trees - ideal for lounging in the Tuscan sunshine. 

Casa Grande (240 square metres) 
The original, three storey farmhouse. Currently laid out with two double bedrooms, three large sitting rooms, large dining room, massive kitchen, master bathroom and utility / shower room. The house could easily rearranged with four bedrooms.

La Roccia (90 square metres)
The converted barn. Two double bedrooms, double sitting room with fireplace, eat-in kitchen with fireplace, family bathroom with tub and separate large shower room. 

It is beautiful as it is, but a simple wall to divide sitting room would create third bedroom. Or, by closing off the staircase and adding a kitchen next to the upstairs bathroom, this could become two small apartments.

Alternatively, why not build a traditional stone loggia or a modern glass structure to link Casa Grande and La Roccia, making La Roccia the bedroom wing with four extra bedrooms? Upstairs would easily be divided into three bedrooms, plus another bedroom and a dedicated kitchen / sitting room downstairs.

La Stalla (60 square metres)
The converted stable. Pretty sitting room, small kitchen, double bedroom and shower room. Perfect as it is!

Il Forno (60 square metres)
The converted bakehouse. Pretty sitting room with original working, full-size pizza / bread oven, small kitchen, double bedroom and shower room.

Could be the party house, with a screening room / home cinema downstairs and the pizza place upstairs. 

The Entrance

Borgo della Madonnina is accessed via a long concrete drive. The property is completely private. At the end of the drive is a wall with large wrought iron gates. Next to the gates is shrine dating from the 1740s, which is also owned by the property. This has an original, 18th century marble bas-relief of Santa Zita, patron saint of Lucca and born in Pescaglia in the 11th century.

The Swimming Pool

The pool measures 8 metres by 4 metres and seems to hang above the trees, giving wonderful views across the valley. The whole area was remodelled in 2004, with the addition of a brick path with stone steps, a large brick patio area and a wooden deck suspended over the valley.

Services

Borgo della Madonnina is connected to mains water, which is metered, and mains electricity. There are two gas tanks, one of 1,500 litres and the other of 1,000 litres. These are filled twice a year by tanker, costing c euro800. All of the buildings have full independent gas central heating. Casa della Madonnina is heated by a new euro10,000 Thermorossi furnace, which burns wood. It is far more economical to heat such a large house in this way, although the system can be switched to gas if necessary.

Each of the houses has a new, gas combination boiler. There is an annual service contract with local, registered technician.

Location, Location, Location

Borgo della Madonina is close to Celle dei Puccini, one time home of the Puccini family, and the beautiful hill village of Pescaglia, perched at the top of a steep hillside. Bordered by the forested Appenines to the east and the Apuan Alps to the west, the Garfagnana area is one of alpine meadows, lush hills, rivers and gorges, making it ideal for walkers and hikers.

The Medieval and Renaissance glories of the walled city of Lucca are only 18 kilometres away, while Pisa and Florence are close enough for day trips. The glamorous beach resorts of Viareggio, Marina di Pietrasanta and Forte dei Marmi are only a short, but stunning drive across the Apuan Alps. Nearby, Barga and Torre del Lago have wonderful music and opera festivals throughout the summer. 

Nearby there are two very warm and welcoming, family owned restaurants, Molin della Volpe, a pleasant ten minute walk away, and Al Bivio in Trebbio, a ten minute drive away.