Extraordinary Medieval Castle On Versilia's Hills

The renowned Versilia coast features extraordinary places like this medieval castle for sale. Nestled on a hill a few kilometers from Lucca, it overlooks the surrounding area and offers a 360-degree view of the Tuscan countryside up to the sea.

Its 13th-century walls, which are 5-metres high and 300-metres long, completely embrace this property and its 6,400-sqm private park with majestic centuries-old trees. The complex measures 500 sqm, spread on various levels, and embellished with numerous terraces and panoramic points that offer sweeping views of the sea and, on clear days, the islands of the Tuscan archipelago. It is divided into three parts: the main villa, a loft used as an apartment and a turret for the guardian.

This property for sale stands majestically along the route of the ancient Via Francigena, among hills planted with vines and olive trees, testifying to its vast historical prestige. Its strategic location attracted the interest of Lucca in the 12th and 13th centuries, during the wars with Pisa for the control of the coastal areas. In 1223, the municipality of Lucca commissioned the construction of the castle, which has a star shape that is typical of military fortresses. This structure was conceived to hinder the lords of Lunigiana in sending reinforcements to the Camaiore castles allied with Pisa, subsequently conquered by the municipality of Lucca. Over time, the castle was the subject of disputes between Lucca and Pisa due to its crucial position along the Via Francigena and in the Versilia plain. Between 1315 and 1324, the castle passed into the hands of the Pisans, who further fortified it. Only with the rise of Castruccio Castracani, lord of Lucca, did the castle return to Lucca's hands. However, the Pisans claimed their rights to the castle even after Castruccio's death, regaining it in 1342. In 1369, the castle returned to Lucca, together with Pietrasanta and its vicariate, thanks to the liberation from the Pisan dominion by Emperor Charles IV.

The main villa is accessed from an elegant walkway that leads to a big entrance with a beautiful billiard table in the middle. To its right there is the main living room, with a big original stone fireplace and two comfortable sofas, continuing along the corridor we find a hallway room and a study. To the left of the entrance, there is access to another room with a fireplace and a living room, continuing on we find an equipped kitchen and a sleeping area with four enchanting bedrooms and four bathrooms.

The luxurious loft features a living room area and a beautifully remodeled kitchen with a cooking island, followed by a bedroom and a bathroom. The particularity of this apartment is certainly its panoramic sea-facing terrace, which guarantees unique moments of relaxation. Wooden beams, terracotta floors and fine finishes are present throughout this beautiful property and take us back to the most authentic Tuscany. The last structure is the ancient turret used by the guardian, where we can find a bedroom with a bathroom.

All around the buildings there is a park measuring over 6,400 sqm, extending both inside and outside the walls along the side of the hill towards Pietrasanta, with a part dedicated to a forest and an olive grove. Inside the walls, the garden, enriched by centuries-old trees, winds through various streets and stone stairs. In the middle, there is an ancient structure which houses a chapel, still consecrated today.

This luxurious castle for sale represents a prestigious real estate opportunity, a dive into the enchanted atmosphere of Tuscany where historical elegance and modern comfort meet. Its strategic position also makes it an ideal starting point for exploring the surrounding beauties, with art locations including Lucca, Florence and Montecatini Terme a short distance away, as well as the Versilia coast with its sea and its endless supply of entertainment.