Villa Castagno is an exceptionally lovely 16th-century villa hidden in the chestnut-wooded hills outside Lucca and surrounded by a charming garden. Once a millhouse, the villa sits next to the brook that supplied the water to turn the wheel of the mill. High, wood-beamed ceilings and antiques accent many of the colorfully decorated interiors, including the ground-floor living room, which also features a fireplace and French windows opening out onto the garden.

On the ground floor is a twin bedroom with antique beds and a bathroom with shower. The villa's lower level houses a fully equipped kitchen (with dishwasher and microwave) that opens onto the garden, a dining room opening onto a shaded terrace with an old stone oven and furniture for al fresco dining, and a utility room with a washing machine.

On the upper level is a spacious living room with a fireplace and satellite TV, as well as the remaining two bedrooms. The master bedroom has a canopied bed and ensuite marble bathroom (tub and shower), and there is also a double bedroom with an antique bed. There is one additional bathroom with shower.

An abundance of charm lies both inside and outside the tree-lined medieval walls of Lucca. The countryside surrounding Lucca is as beautiful as any in Tuscany and offers some interesting diversions. Just to the north lies an area known as the Garfagnana, encompassing two mountain ranges and the green valley in between. The coast is also easily reached (20 kilometers). Forte dei Marmi, a few kilometers up the coast, offers a first-rate beach and all the attractions of an upscale resort town, while Cinqueterre, a bit farther north, has a more quaint appeal. Here, five ancient fishing villages are strung along the cliffs like pearls, connected by well-worn shepherds' paths. The nearest village, with supermarkets and other conveniences, is just 2 kilometers away.

Prices on request; please inquire.