Charming apartment, with exposed beams and original terracotta floors, on the first floor of a medieval watchtower in a quiet hamlet in the Western Valdera. Just 25 minutes from Pisa, it’s set among olive groves and offers soothing views of the rolling Tuscan landscape beyond.
The apartment comprises a living room-kitchen-diner, a bedroom, and a shower room. Both the apartment and the whole building , have been freshly redecorated this year (2021)! Now that’s marvellous news for any new owner!
This small, but lovely flat on the first floor has a private entrance, private parking space and big South-facing windows, with pretty views from each one. It’s an ideal bolthole, a place you can lock up and leave and return to for holidays and weekends.
It has a review rating of 4.93 out of 5 on Airbnb and 4.8 out of 5 on HomeAway. It has been a writer’s happy retreat for 13 years, a perfect place to think, write and dream.
Borghettino di Ripoli, a farmhouse and watchtower dating back to the Middle Ages, has been converted into seven apartments, and a separate hayloft, by a team of well known architects, using period materials and traditional techniques. All have use of a pretty, shared garden and a stunning, 10-metre infinity pool. All but one are holiday apartments, so it’s rare to find more than a few people around the pool.
CONDOMINIUM COSTS

Condominium costs may vary between € 1,500.00 and € 2,000.00 per year – They include: cleaning of communal pathways, communal garden, sunbathing area and swimming pool, water and electricity for common grounds, septic tank, building insurance, and last but not least, internet connection!

YEARLY PROPERTY TAX – IMU

Unless you apply to become resident, you will have to pay a yearly tax (aka IMU) because you own a property in Italy. This figure may vary depending on the percentage calculated each year by the ‘Comune di Casciana Terme Lari’. Last year (2020) IMU on this property was € 460.00

THE AREA

Ripoli is on the edge of Cevoli, a picturesque village with a church and a couple of bars. It’s a few minutes’ drive to Lari, famous for its medieval castle and to Casciana Terme, well known for its thermal spa. Within an hour you can be in Florence, Lucca, Volterra or Siena. If you prefer, you can leave the car in Pontedera and get the train to Florence, which takes just 45 minutes. In about half an hour, you can be on the beach at Livorno or Terrenia. In about an hour, you can be in the dramatic mountain landscapes of the Garfagnana or, a few minutes on, La Spezia. This is an excellent base for exploring the whole of Tuscany and beyond.

There’s a huge choice of restaurants, cafes and bars in Ponsacco, Pontedera, Palaia, Lajatico, Chianni and other nearby villages and towns. There are shops and supermarkets, including a huge Conad, within a five-minute drive. This delightful little apartment combines the convenience of a 25-minute drive from an airport with the tranquillity, beauty and sense of history that has made Tuscany so loved around the world. This is an excellent opportunity to get a bolthole in Tuscany of your own.

ACCESS

This property certainly has no problem to get to. The road to the Borghettino di Ripoli is paved and very well kept.

PARKING

Condominium’s parking area with assigned parking spaces.

DOES THE PROPERTY HAVE A SWIMMING POOL?

Yes! A pool with a view, I might add! It’s an infinity pool, overlooking the most authentic Tuscan landscape ever.

FINISHINGS

Terracotta floor tiles
Exposed wood beams and terracotta ceiling tiles
Shower room with terracotta flooring and travertine marble wall tiles
Double glazed window panels
UTILITIES

Mains Water, Electricity, and Gas
Condo septic tank
Heating: radiators
ENERGY PERFORMANCE CERTIFICATE E.P.C. – ITALIAN A.P.E.

Date: January 27th, 2021 – Class: F

EPgl, Nren: 102,29 Kwh/mq*anno

STATE OF MAINTENANCE

Indeed very good.