While the medieval walls of Lucca are only a ten-minute drive, this gorgeous Tuscan villa feels like a million miles away thanks to its huge gardens. Set on the banks of the river Serchio, the plot is spread across 10,000 sq metres and is filled with fruit and olive trees. When you're not wandering the grounds, a raised outdoor pool is perfect for cooling off from the Tuscan heat, with a covered pergola and sofas to relax. Inside, the home has kept many of its original features, including rustic red bricks, wooden ceiling planks, and thick stone walls. We love the main dining-kitchen room, with its cute cooking stove and gingham curtains, smartened by upholstered chairs and a grand dining table. Bedrooms have got the same clash of old and new; a patch of original wall amidst the bright white plaster or the antique beds depicting pastoral scenes. For a final flourish of countryside loveliness, it's out to the patio, with its climbing vines and wooden furniture – the perfect setting for an alfresco feast.

Additional fees

• If you'll be arriving from 8pm until 12am, you'll be charged a late arrival fee of €50. If you’ll be arriving after midnight, you’ll be charged a late arrival fee of €100.

Additional fees subject to a 3.5% handling charge.