Just outside the famed artist town of Montecatini Terme, this sprawling villa in the Tuscan countryside is well-placed for exploring not only nearby Florence, but lovely Lucca as well. But while we love the position of this home, we think some guests might end up finding it difficult to leave the premises – with a beautiful mature garden and large swimming pool, this home’s many charms are capped off by a floodlit private tennis court, ping pong table, foosball, and a children’s play area. And that’s before we get to the horses. Keen equestrians – or just the horse curious – will love the fact that this home is neighboured by horse paddocks, with riding lessons and excursions available on request. Inside, the home is decorated in the traditional Tuscan manner, with classic tiling, exposed ceiling beams, and classic furnishings all in evidence. There’s a separate apartment available too, which we think would work wonders for families or friends travelling together. Not that you’ll be spending much time indoors though – with covered terraces, plenty of sun loungers round the pool, and shady spots set up under the trees, this is a home that revels in indoor-outdoor living.

Home truths:
*Ground floor bedrooms and a ramp leading out onto the terrace make this home accessible to guests with limited mobility
*The private swimming pool is fenced in for safety and located thirty metres from the house - it's open to guest use from the last Saturday of April until the first Saturday of October
*Both adult and child tennis rackets are provided
*We recommend travelling by car to make the most of a stay at this home and the surrounding area
*There are some extra fees such as €100 for waste disposal, charges for utilities, final cleaning fees, city tax and security deposits – all of which you may need to pay in cash to the homeowner. Please reach out during the booking process to confirm these.