Mulino del Pita

With millstones left in situ in the Mill House, a games room occupying the old Ivy Barn, and a heatable pool in a sheltered corner of the sunny lawns, this luxury villa in Tuscany will appeal to the whole family. In its working heyday, it was a social meeting place for local villagers, and its old stone walls seem infused with that conviviality, now enhancing a relaxing holiday atmosphere. Converted with comfort and practicality in mind, and furnished in an attractive mix of old and new, the house has a contemporary kitchen/diner at ground level and, on the floor above, a spacious sitting room with beams, big sofas and an open fireplace. Two bedrooms also share this floor, with three more, including a charming master suite, occupying the top of the house. With a high raftered roof and exposed stone walls, the barn has a pool table, dart board, puzzles and games, complemented outside with a croquet lawn. An al fresco dining area makes the most of a built-in barbecue and looks down on the beautiful valley. Shops and restaurants are 6km from the villa, and Lucca is within easy reach, 40km away.