Description Beautiful Country: Palaia

Sitting in the middle of rolling Tuscan hills, this home might look like a single villa from the outside, but it's actually two self-contained apartments, each with its own living room, kitchen and bathrooms. If you're two large families travelling together in need of a little privacy at certain moments, this is a very elegant solution.

We're happy to say that each section is as handsome as the other, with plenty of traditional Tuscan architectural features to be spotted, such as terracotta flooring, wooden ceiling beams and rustic fireplaces. Where the address really impresses, however, is the communal outdoor space. Here, you've got everything from a long swimming pool blessed with stunning views of the verdant Valdera landscape to a wealth of terraces with alfresco seating and a stone barbecue for whipping up hearty feasts. Time your visit right and visitors are rewarded with the heady scent of roses as the well-maintained garden comes into bloom.

Even though the surroundings look perfectly rural at first glance, there's plenty to see in the surrounding area. Beaches on Italy's west coastline take about forty minutes to reach in the car, as does the city of Pisa. Florence is an hour and a half's drive too, so close enough for a day trip.

Home truths:
*There's free parking available on the premises behind secure gates
*A high chair can be provided if required