Former Monastery With Pool For Sale In Lucca, Tuscany

In the hills of Garfagnana, in a very panoramic and private position, 13th-century former monastery for sale. The building has been skillfully renovated and converted into a retreat for those seeking moments of peace and relaxation away from the chaos of the city. The structure is also very suitable for ceremonies and corporate events thanks to a dedicated room and the beautiful environmental setting.

The convent is surrounded by 9.7 hectares (24.0 acres) of woods that ensure great privacy and tranquility, as well as providing interesting opportunities for hikes and walks in the unspoiled nature of Garfagnana.

The property is largely self-sufficient: a mountain spring provides an abundant supply of water all year round, more than enough to meet the property’s needs; similarly, the woods surrounding the buildings are used to produce firewood, which is then used to heat the property. In addition, there is a solar panel system for domestic hot water.

A small town just over a kilometer away has essential services for everyday life (a small grocery store, post office, pharmacy). The village also houses two typical restaurants that only use locale produces in their dishes. From the property, you can reach the sea of Versilia in about an hour by car and the historic center of Lucca in about 40 minutes.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PROPERTY
The monastery (609 m² – 6,553 ft², 9 bedrooms and 10 bathrooms) is a building dating back to the 13th century, originally established as a hermitage founded by monks from the hermitage of Montesiepi, near Siena. These monks left their original location when they clashed with the new rules adopted by the sanctuary and headed towards Garfagnana. The monks soon joined local communities and declared themselves followers of the Rule of Saint Augustine. In the early 1300s, the misfortunes of the century also affected the hermit’s community, and only the intervention of the Bishop of Lucca in 1374 allowed the monastery to survive. The convent was finally closed in 1461, and the monks moved to Lucca. The building, including the church which was supposed to remain consecrated under penalty of nullity of any contracts, was passed from hand to hand to various families and by the mid-16th century became an agricultural estate. In the 20th century, the property was divided among various owners and the church was definitively deconsecrated, leading to the total abandonment of the complex. The current owners renovated the entire complex between 2011 and 2014, preserving the essence of the place and focusing on sustainability.
The structure is spread over various split levels, accessible from the outside via stairs and loggias. The common areas include the entrance, a spacious kitchen with dining/breakfast room, a service bathroom, and what was once the church, now converted into a beautiful event space (at the end of the environment, a loft offers a reading corner with a library). On the various floors, there are nine bedrooms, all with en-suite bathrooms, for guest accommodation.

The guesthouse (76 m² – 818 ft², 1 bedroom and 1 bathroom) is a charming two-story building, not far from the convent, which houses a kitchen/dining room, two bedrooms, and a bathroom.

On the terrace leading to the pool, there is a versatile space (87 m² – 936 ft²) that could serve as a summer lounge and/or additional event area.

The 10 × 5 m infinity pool is located in a secluded corner of the property, surrounded by hedges that ensure privacy, and offers breathtaking panoramic views of the surrounding woods.

Completing the property is a painting workshop (133 m² – 1,431 ft²) and two sheds (61 m² – 656 ft²), very convenient for storing tools.

CLOSEST CITIES AND TOWNS
Closest services (1,5km; 2’), Barga (16km; 25’), Castelnuovo di Garfagnana (25km; 30’), Lucca (38km; 45’), Camaiore (39km; 1h 10’), Viareggio (43km; 1h 15’), Pisa (57km; 1h 15’), Montecatini Terme (63km; 1h 5’), Forte dei Marmi (74km; 1h 10’), Livorno (91km; 1h 30’), Volterra (106km; 2h), Firenze (111km; 1h 50’)

CLOSEST AIRPORTS
Pisa G. Galilei (75km; 1h 15’), Firenze A. Vespucci (102km; 1h 30’), Bologna G. Marconi (184km; 2h 20’), Genova C. Colombo (204km; 2h 35’), Milano Linate (313km; 3h 30’), Milano Malpensa (363km; 4h 10’), Roma Ciampino (393km; 4h 20’), Roma Fiumicino (407km; 4h 20’)