Pescaglia, Lucca, Tuscany, Italy / 8 bedrooms • 2 baths

The original property, built around 1594, occupies the highest point of the tiny medieval village of Celle dei Puccini, nestled against the sweeping hills of Lucca.

From an elevation of 400 metres, panoramic views are a particular feature, providing glimpses of hidden valleys, tucked away villages and deep forests below. On a clear day one can see as far as the Roman city of Lucca. The village of Celle, with its ancient narrow streets, is celebrated as being the ancestral home of composer Giacomo Puccini. A museum in his name sits in the pretty cobbled town square close to a rustic restaurant and bar serving excellent home cooking. Generations of Celle families have cultivated the local land for centuries, and they continue to do so. The rich dark soil continues to produce an abundance of local wine, olive oil, porcini mushrooms and wonderful fresh vegetables and fruit. On a clear night the unpolluted sky comes alive with stars – a true astronomical experience.