Ravine Romance

An 11th-century villa tucked into a hamlet in the Apuan Alps, this is the kind of place that makes the outside world feel very far away. The hillside pool looks out over the Serchio Valley with no other buildings in sight – just forested ridgelines and, at dusk, the Alps catching the last of the light. Inside, a grand medieval hall with vaulted ceilings and Murano glass chandeliers sits alongside a covered terrace made for long alfresco dinners. Lucca's medieval streets are a thirty-minute drive away, and the Romanesque Devil's Bridge is just a few minutes by car.

Home truths:
* You'll need a car to make the most of your stay here. Borgo a Mozzano is 3 kilometres away for basics, and the nearest larger supermarket is a fifteen-minute drive – so we recommend picking up supplies on your way in.
* Air conditioning is available in the hall and work area, but not in the bedrooms – worth bearing in mind if you're visiting in the height of summer. That said, the stone walls do a decent job of keeping you cool.
* While the great hall and two bedrooms aren't photographed, expect the style and quality to be consistent with the rest of the home.