Villa Vassi

Following a fabulous restoration, a former olive press and its adjacent barn are now connected by a large entrance hall and upper terrace, to form a single spacious building. Its chic interiors are light and airy, with whitewashed beams and rafters, décor in soft creamy tones, elegant furnishings in country house style, and mod cons from kitchen appliances to WiFi and iPod dock. All the ground floor rooms open out to various terraces, some furnished and shaded with rustic pergolas, the dining terrace enjoying gorgeous views over the hills. The kitchen/diner is an attractive blend of old world and new, and the large sitting room, with its fireplace and big sofa, is complemented by a second stylish sitting room on the upper level. Each individually designed and refreshingly uncluttered, the six bedrooms all have excellent en suite bath or shower room. Outside, in natural gardens which merge imperceptibly with their olive grove setting, a twelve metre pool is surrounded by lawns and mature trees. Just 5km from shops at San Martino in Freddana, and 11km from Lucca, Villa Vassi is a 25km drive from beaches at Viareggio and Forte dei Marmi.