Villa Allegra former olive farmhouse with pool (sleeps 9)

Villa Allegra is a short walk away from the medieval 'borgo' of Sant'Andrea di Compito, famous for its ancient camellia trees and olive oil. Villa Allegra was once a farm belonging to the Lucca family Giovanetti, who built the property in 1676 to process olives from their land on the foothills of the Monte Pisano. The Villa consists of the 5-bedroomed main house and 3-bedroomed barn. The two properties are completely separate, but share grounds of 3,500 metres and the large, circular pool. Both properties have their own designated alfresco dining area.

The main house of Villa Allegra has five bedrooms, consisting of three doubles (one of which can be made up as a twin room), one twin and one single room. The West and East side double rooms (bedrooms 1 and 4) connect with, respectively, a single bedroom and a large twin bedroom, to create family suites. These two suites both have ensuite bathrooms. The West side suite has ample space for a baby bed. The slightly smaller middle double room has its own ensuite bathroom and space - if required - for a baby bed or put-up bed. All three main double bedrooms have spacious walk-in closets. The twin room has a spacious wardrobe.

Just a few metres away from the property, along an olive tree-lined lane, you will find the public tennis courts, with two courts, bookable by the hour at the cultural centre. A 7-minute walk will take you to the nearest pizzeria/restaurant - Tre Tigli. Closer still, at the end of the garden (250m) lies the village shop where you can by local, artisan products as well as food and household basics. At the start of the road (2km) you can get an authentic Italian coffee or cappuccino at Elena's bar (Via della Pieve 22). The supermarket is 4 km away at San Leonardo in Treponzio. Lucca is 11km, Florence 55km and Pisa airport is a 38-minute car trip, either via the motorways or through the villages of Pisa.

Villa Allegra is located at the centre of the twinned village of Pieve di Compito and Sant'Andrea di Compito. Shaded by hills known as the Monte Pisano, the area a special microclimate that make it cooler in Summer. It is well fed by streams from the Monte Pisano, and on the main road just before you arrive at the house you can fill up cans with fresh spring water at the public fountain. After a scorching day touring the cultural towns of Florence, Sienna or San Gimignano, when you come home you will find lots of leafy, shady spots to retire to. If you still need cooling down, you can take a short trip (5 minutes by car) to the local ice cream cafe, PappaGrappa, which makes its own all-natural ice creams and sorbets.

From Villa Allegra there are various mountain walks you can make, into the Monte Pisano. The mountain range is very popular with hikers as it is still offers a wealth of flora and fauna to explore and enjoy. Alternatively, you can visit the Camillietum Compitese - the Camellia botanical garden of Pieve di Compito, which boasts 1,000 cultivars.