A Hidden Gem Between Tuscany And Liguria: Il Bunker – An Architectural Rarity By Marcello D’olivo

Nestled in the rolling hills where Tuscany, Liguria, and Emilia-Romagna converge, the Val Taro remains one of Italy’s last untouched treasures. This lush and tranquil valley offers a rare balance of authenticity, beauty, and accessibility — a place where time slows down, yet everything is within reach.

Surrounded by forests, rivers, and panoramic views, Val Taro is just 45 minutes from Forte dei Marmi and the Tuscan coast, and close to iconic destinations like Cinque Terre (UNESCO World Heritage Site), Lucca, Pisa, and Parma — the latter known worldwide for its art, opera and gastronomy.
The region is well connected: a direct railway line links the area to Milan, Genoa, and Florence; the A15 highway provides quick road access; and Parma Airport is less than an hour away, offering domestic and international connections.

Increasingly popular among British and French buyers, these green valleys are loved for their cool summer climate, immersion in nature, and above all for real estate values that remain remarkably attractive compared to Italy’s more saturated markets.
Here, you’ll enjoy a way of life that is both refined and deeply rooted in tradition: seasonal cuisine (including the famous Porcini mushrooms of Borgotaro, IGP certified), open-air markets, hilltop festivals, and a warm, welcoming local community.

Whether you are seeking a peaceful escape or a permanent relocation, the Val Taro is a discreet and timeless corner of Italy waiting to be discovered.

Designed by one of Italy’s most enigmatic and visionary architects, Marcello D’Olivo, this extraordinary villa is not simply a home — it is a collectible. Known for his radical biomorphic style and large-scale public works across four continents, D’Olivo left an indelible mark on post-war architecture. His most iconic creation is perhaps the Monument to the Unknown Soldier in Baghdad — 30,000 square meters of pure concrete, built without a single supporting pillar.

Casa Coffrini, completed in the early 1970s and widely featured in architectural magazines and journals, is one of his few private residential projects and remains almost untouched in structure and concept. Nicknamed “Il Bunker” for its sculptural, defensive presence, the house also echoes two seashells opening to the sky — an early and rare example of Italian organic brutalism, constructed entirely in exposed reinforced concrete.

Set at the summit of a forested hill in the pristine Val Taro, the villa enjoys total privacy, surrounded by nearly 12,000 square meters of natural parkland, fruit trees, hedges and flowering shrubs. And yet it remains just minutes from the charming town of Borgo Val di Taro and its direct rail connections to Milan, Florence, and Genoa. Parma airport is under an hour away; the Ligurian coast and Forte dei Marmi are 45 minutes by car.

A Living Sculpture (Approx. 400 m² on Four Levels)
The Ground Floor opens into a dramatic 120 m² salon beneath a vaulted ceiling of raw concrete. A floor-to-ceiling glass wall invites the landscape inside, bathing the room in natural light. The floor is laid in handcrafted terracotta tiles, while the entire ceiling is clad in wood, warming the space and balancing the material austerity of the structure. The massive stone fireplace and the custom built-in furniture — designed by D’Olivo himself — complete the architectural integrity. Also on this level: the main entrance, a guest bathroom, a kitchen with walk-in pantry, a laundry room, and a garage suitable for one car and a motorbike, with internal access.

A stone-paved driveway leads from the gate to the house, offering ample parking for up to six vehicles.

Upstairs, a suspended corridor overlooks the main hall and connects to three bedrooms, each with its own private bathroom. One has a terrace, another a balcony. The interiors retain original materials and volumes, and all rooms are bathed in light.

The Semi-Basement is a hidden treasure. Though partially embedded in the hill, it opens directly to the garden on three sides. Here lies a superb games room, complete with a full-sized billiard table, and an evocative taverna finished in copper, with fireplace and stone details — a perfect place for autumn dinners and intimate evenings. This level also includes two bedrooms, a bathroom, storage and utility spaces.

The Basement below offers a traditional cantina, a vast wood store, and a flexible 60 m² space ideal for hobbies, music, or a private studio — all accessible from the outside.

Why Casa Coffrini?
A published and historic residence by one of Italy’s most original post-war architects

Among the earliest examples of concrete organic architecture in private housing

A home that blends austerity and warmth, sculptural form and nature

Ideal for architecture lovers, collectors, or anyone seeking an authentic, untouched space to reinterpret

Rare balance between privacy and connectivity: Milan, Florence, Genoa and the Ligurian coast all within easy reach