Podere Tilia

The villa

Approached via a winding lane lined with cypress trees, with views of the surrounding olive groves and woodland, Podere Tilia offers you a quintessential Tuscan experience in the foothills of Monte Pisano.

The owners of this enchanting farmhouse have renovated Podere Tilia throughout, creating a fine holiday home of a high standard. You’ll immediately sense the quality yet warmth as you step into the entrance hall with its dining table perfectly positioned for evenings of conversation and good wine with family or friends. The impressive lounge offers so much space with its sumptuous sofas, fireplace and huge doors opening out to the garden and views. There is a true Italian spirit across this air-conditioned living space with its ornate décor and welcoming ambience.

The first floor offers a romantic master bedroom with its stylish shower and steam room, a pretty en-suite twin/double and doors leading to a sun terrace with panoramic views. Another narrow staircase winds up to the top of the house where a charming third bedroom features exposed stone walls, wood-beamed ceilings and delightful views of Tuscan landscapes. As well as the three main bedrooms, each with air-conditioning, there is also a pull-out bed suitable for two children in a room downstairs with its own en suite bathroom, allowing the villa to sleep up to eight guests.

Set in an olive estate, you can blissfully gaze at the lovely vistas around you as you relax by the private pool or enjoy long meals by the pizza oven and barbecue in the characterful al-fresco dining area.

Wander down through the olive groves and woodland to reach the local village with its grocery shop and a handful of restaurants or follow one of the many forest trails to discover the magnificent landscapes of Monte Pisano. This area is ideal for guests who love walking, cycling and especially mountain biking and you will also find horse-riding, rock-climbing and river rafting within a short drive.

The three incredible cities of Lucca, Pisa and Florence are waiting to be explored or spend the day on the sandy beaches of Viareggio. Discover hidden villages, charming trattorias, amazing wineries and summer festivities across the region; this part of northern Tuscany offers authentic experiences to every age.

Set in the foothills of Monte Pisano in northern Tuscany, between Pisa and Lucca, Podere Tilia is surrounded by olive groves, woodland and beautiful countryside.

You can wander down through the olive trees and forests to a local village around 2km away where you will find places to eat and a grocery shop. The nearest supermarket can be found in San Leonardo (7km), or drive to the nearby town of Bientina (8km) for shops, supermarkets, restaurants and other useful amenities. Look out for the weekly market every Tuesday morning and on the fourth weekend of every month there’s an antique’s fair in one of the squares. If you are staying in July, check the dates of Il Palio di Bientina , an equestrian competition that takes place in the main square.

This is also a wonderful area for walking, hiking, cycling and mountain biking with many trails leading straight from the grounds leading to endless forests and amazing landscapes of Monte Pisano. The nearby Riserva Naturale Bosco di Tanali is a great place for a walk where you can look out for all sorts of wildlife whilst the more adventurous can hike over the hills to the local hilltop village of Buti, around 7km away, passing through enchanting woodland en route. There is also horse-riding within a ten-minute drive as well as rock climbing, water-rafting and canyoning in the region.

The villa is also ideally positioned for visiting Lucca (18km) with its city walls (for walking or cycling), beautiful churches, towers and piazzas in the old centre and many wonderful cafes, bars and trattorias serving local specialities. Heading south, Pisa (30km) is also a short drive where you can visit its famous duomo and tower but also explore the picturesque riverside and yet more excellent restaurants, many serving seafood due to its proximity to the coast.

Indeed, if you fancy spending the day at the beach then head to Viareggio (40km) with its beautiful promenade, sandy beaches and range of watersports. The town also hosts Italy’s greatest carnival in the lead up to Easter but if you can’t make it then the Museo Cittadella del Carnevale is a great way to learn all about it. Heading north of Viareggio, you could even visit some of Liguria’s enchanting beachside villages and towns such as Lerici (80km) and La Spezia (90km), the gateway to the Cinque Terre.

Florence is of course another exquisite city to visit, just over an hour away by car or you could catch the train from Pontedera (13km). One of the most beautiful cities in the world, explore its historic treasures and world-famous art galleries. South of Florence, the Chianti hills are filled with enchanting Tuscan villages such as San Gimignano (65km), Certaldo (60km) and Montespertoli (54km) to name just a few.