​The pool and gardens

A totally private acre of south-facing paradise awaits you, complete with swimming pool and spectacular poolside dining area with panoramic views. You can spend whole days here without wanting to move. 

The gardens are set on the hillside, just a few steps from the house across a car-free cobbled alley  leading off the square. 

There are stairs to the top vegetable garden terrace, to the main garden terrace, and to the pool terrace. Each area has its own distinctive atmosphere and planting.

A winding path at the far side of the pool leads back up through an orchard and shrubbery to our private off-road car parking space. At the end of a day out, park and drop straight into the pool!

Both pool and gardens can be gently lit at night, allowing you to stay up long after night falls.

pool area

The pool and the covered 'kiosk' dining area overlooking it form the heart of the garden.

The pool is solar heated and has a cover, so you can enjoy it from June to September.

There are changing rooms, showers and WC and comfortable loungers beside the pool.

The pool is 11m x 4m x 1.4 deep, with steps for easy access. Swim looking east to the gardens, south to the castle and the best view in all Lunigiana, or west to the mountains and the sunset.

Under the kiosk, there is a large comfortable dining area with mood lighting for the evening.

A marble-topped bar, fridge, sink and services, and a large Weber gas BBQ, make it easy to eat lunch or dinner in the garden

Sip an aperitivo as the sun goes down over the hills beyond and watch the rodini swoop down to skim the pool in the early evening light.

the TOP GARDEN terrace

Walk through the gate marked private onto our top garden terrace.

It has a swing seat and a table for up to 6 under a rose and wisteria pergola.

This terrace was originally part of our neighbour's vegetable garden and is now the site of ours.

You can see what fruit and vegetables we're growing here in raised beds. You're welcome to pick any produce that's ready while you're here. 

 You can hear sound of silence ... and the sounds of the  countryside - cowbells, a tractor, dogs and chickens, church bells chiming for midday and evening meals, the hum of conversation in the square. 

In summer you'll see lizards by day and fireflies at night and hear the song of cicadas.

MAIN GARDEN TERRACE

The main landscaped gardens on the terrace level below are are designed to merge into the countryside, with minimum fencing.

They are Anglo-Italian in design – stonework, shrubs and succulents mixed with roses, fruit, flowers and a distinctly English lawn.

A large flower bed in the centre provides colour all year round.

The wisteria pergola on this level has stunning south-facing views, and a stone sink to chill drinks in. Perfect at any time of day. 

From here you can wander along under the arches to the kiosk and staircase down to the pool, or take the grass path down to the lawn. ​

ORCHARD AND SHRUBBERY

From the lawn and the pool you can wander out into our newly planted orchard. 

We are growing quince, cherries, fig, fejoia, corbezzolo, persimmon and pomegranate here.

There are also lemon, grapefruit, bitter orange, kumkwat and myrtle in the more sheltered main garden and strawberries, blackberries and rhubarb in the vegetable plot.  You are welcome to sample anything that is in season during your stay.

A grass path leads up from the pool  to a seat overlooking the orchard, and from there a gravel path takes you up to our private off-road car park.