Casa Montopoli

Broad lawns surround this lovely villa in the heart of Tuscany, dappled with tree shade and crossed with paved pathways linking the house to its lagoon-style pool. Hemmed by a bank of huge rocks and splashed by a fountain, the wade-in pool is set just below the front of the house, at the foot of an elegant stairway, and is overlooked by a covered dining terrace with terrific views over the tree tops. A second al fresco terrace is level with the garden at the rear of the villa, from where a door leads in to the beautiful sitting room with comfy sofas, a huge open fireplace and big old beams. The colour-washed country kitchen is equally inviting, with an open archway to the dining room, and there is a simply styled single bedroom also on this level. Four bedrooms on the floor above include two doubles with romantic wrought iron four- posters, and, throughout the house, modern appliances are mixed with antique and country furnishings. With a pizza oven, barbecue and the option of cook service, this very leisurely villa is just 3km from restaurants and shops in Montopoli, and within about 40km of Pisa, Florence and Lucca.