Picture yourself waking to the gentle rustling of chestnut leaves outside your bedroom window, sunlight filtering through ancient trees as woodsmoke curls from your stone chimney. This is morning in your Tuscan vacation home, where the only sounds are birdsong and the distant church bells of hillside villages dotting the Serchio Valley. This 4-bedroom property in Coreglia Antelminelli offers something increasingly rare: authentic Tuscan living combined with modern comfort, complete privacy wrapped in accessible convenience, and a retreat that feels worlds away yet sits just minutes from vibrant village life. Your journey to owning a piece of Tuscany's magic begins here, in the forested hills above Lucca, where mountain air meets Mediterranean warmth and every season brings new reasons to return.
The property comprises two distinct structures that together create the perfect vacation home for families, multigenerational gatherings, or investment rental opportunities. The main house, a traditional stone dwelling arranged over two floors, welcomes you through an entrance warmed by a wood-burning stove – your companion for cozy autumn evenings and winter weekends. The ground floor flows naturally between kitchen and living room library, spaces designed for lingering over morning espresso or evening aperitivo. Original chestnut wood staircases, a hallmark of local craftsmanship, lead upstairs where two double bedrooms feature exposed beam ceilings and wooden floors that creak with character. Double-glazed windows frame views of surrounding woodland while keeping interiors comfortable year-round, and modernized systems installed within the past two decades ensure reliability for international owners.
The 2007-built annex represents thoughtful expansion, a stone-faced structure that maintains architectural harmony while offering complete independence. Two ground-level bedrooms with dedicated bathroom provide perfect guest quarters or rental accommodation, while the upper level creates a self-contained living space with entrance lounge, additional bedroom, bathroom, and kitchen. Everything here meets current building codes and certifications, offering peace of mind for buyers concerned about property compliance. This dual-structure configuration opens multiple usage scenarios: keep the main house for family while renting the annex seasonally, accommodate extended family visits without sacrificing privacy, or operate both as holiday rentals during periods you're not in residence.
The terraced garden exemplifies thoughtful Tuscan outdoor design, where sloping hillsides become functional living spaces through strategic leveling. Previous owners installed a hot tub on one terrace, creating an alfresco spa experience beneath stars undimmed by city lights. Another flat area hosted outdoor dining, the kind of long summer tables where meals stretch from afternoon into evening, punctuated by local wine and stories that build family memories. Stone retaining walls, likely centuries old, create these usable spaces while preventing erosion, their weathered surfaces adding texture and history to your private landscape.
Coreglia Antelminelli occupies a special position in Tuscany's geography and culture. Perched in the Garfagnana region where the Apuan Alps meet gentler hills, this area historically supplied chestnuts to much of central Italy. Walking these woods in autumn, you'll still find locals gathering the nuts that once sustained mountain communities, and village restaurants feature chestnut flour in everything from pasta to desserts. The microclimate here differs markedly from coastal Tuscany or the Val d'Orcia – expect cooler summers perfect for escaping August heat, snowy winters ideal for cozy retreats, and spring and autumn seasons that stretch longer than lower elevations. Morning fog often fills valleys while hilltop villages like yours bask in sunshine, creating dramatic landscapes photographers and painters have captured for generations.
Your nearest villages, just five minutes by car, punch well above their size in terms of amenities and character. Shops stock daily necessities alongside local specialties: chestnut honey, mountain cheeses, cured meats from nearby farms. Restaurants range from family trattorias serving grandmother recipes to contemporary establishments reimagining regional cuisine. Bars function as social hubs where morning cappuccino turns into evening Aperol spritz, and conversations flow easily between locals and returning visitors. Pian di Coreglia even hosts the Drop, a disco that draws crowds from surrounding valleys, proof that mountain villages maintain vibrant social scenes beyond the rustic stereotype.
Lucca, the walled Renaissance city that serves as provincial capital, lies just 30 kilometers away via winding roads that themselves constitute a scenic experience. Within those perfectly preserved walls, you'll find world-class restaurants, designer shopping, weekly markets, and cultural events ranging from summer music festivals to Christmas markets. Pisa International Airport sits 50 kilometers south, connecting you to major European cities with budget and traditional carriers. Florence, Tuscany's capital and art repository, requires just 90 minutes by car, making weekend culture expeditions entirely feasible. The Versilian coast – Viareggio, Forte dei Marmi, those beaches where Italians summer – sits an hour west, offering completely different vacation experiences from the same home base.
Seasonal rhythms here follow patterns unchanged for generations. Spring brings wildflowers carpeting hillsides, asparagus appearing at markets, and hiking trails drying enough for comfortable walking. Summer means village festivals nearly every weekend, outdoor concerts in historic piazzas, and temperatures 5-8 degrees cooler than Florence. Autumn transforms forests into tapestries of amber and gold, mushroom foragers emerge with jealously guarded secret locations, and harvest festivals celebrate new wine and olive oil. Winter occasionally blankets mountains in snow, creating postcard scenes while leaving lower valleys green, and wood-burning stoves prove their worth alongside that glass of Brunello.
For outdoor enthusiasts, location creates remarkable access to diverse activities. Hiking trails crisscross these mountains, from gentle valley walks to challenging Apuan Alps ascents where marble quarries scar white mountainsides. Mountain biking routes follow old mule tracks and forestry roads. The Serchio River offers kayaking and fishing. Winter skiing at Abetone, Tuscany's premier ski resort, requires just an hour's drive. Rock climbing routes on limestone cliffs attract enthusiasts year-round. These aren't activities requiring travel to distant locations – they begin essentially from your doorstep.
From an investment perspective, properties in authentic Tuscan villages with modern amenities occupy a sweet spot in vacation rental markets. Travelers increasingly seek genuine experiences over resort accommodations, and the dual-structure configuration here allows flexible rental strategies. Rent both buildings together for large groups, offer them separately for couples or small families, or reserve the main house while monetizing the annex. Garfagnana region properties typically achieve 60-70% occupancy during peak seasons with proper marketing, and increasing numbers of remote workers seek longer winter stays in scenic locations with reliable internet. The 315,000 euro price point positions this property competitively against similar offerings while providing room for value appreciation as Tuscany's secondary markets mature.
Legal considerations for international buyers in Italy have streamlined considerably, though engaging local legal counsel remains advisable. Property purchase taxes range from 2-9% depending on buyer status and intended use, with vacation homes typically taxed at the higher rate. Annual property taxes remain modest by Western European standards. Establishing rental operations requires registering with local authorities and collecting tourist taxes, processes any competent property manager handles routinely. The property's certified compliance eliminates concerns about building code issues that plague some Italian real estate transactions.
Key features that distinguish this vacation home: Four bedrooms across two independent structures offering flexible accommodation. Three full bathrooms ensuring comfort for guests and family. 280 square meters of living space providing generous room without excessive maintenance. Wood-burning stove creating authentic Tuscan ambiance. Chestnut wood staircase and exposed beams preserving traditional character. Double-glazed windows and updated systems balancing charm with functionality. Newly built certified annex eliminating renovation uncertainty. Terraced garden with established outdoor living areas. Complete woodland privacy with convenient village access. Five-minute drive to restaurants, shops, and services. Thirty minutes to Lucca's Renaissance splendor. One hour to Pisa airport and Tuscan beaches. Year-round usability across all seasons. Strong rental income potential. Move-in ready condition requiring no immediate investment.
This property represents more than real estate acquisition – it's your entry point to a lifestyle where meals last hours, where seasons dictate rhythms, where neighbors become friends over decades of returns, where children build memories exploring forests and piazzas, where you finally understand why Italians prioritize living well over merely working hard. The foundations are literally and figuratively solid, the location balances seclusion with accessibility, and the price reflects genuine value in a market where authentic properties increasingly command premiums. Contact Homestra today to schedule your viewing of this Coreglia Antelminelli vacation home. Walk these chestnut floors, breathe this mountain air, envision your Tuscan story beginning here. Your Italian escape awaits, complete with wood-burning stove ready for that first fire, terraces prepared for that first sunset aperitivo, and endless possibilities for the vacation home you've been imagining.
