Puccini loved this part of Tuscany, setting up home in a villa on nearby Lake Massaciuccoli to compose his most famous operas. Forming a triangle with Pisa and Lucca, this 15th-century farmhouse commands a look-at-me- spot in the hills above the lake and seaside town of Viareggio, 15 minutes away. Narrow winding roads trickle down through the hills passing villages, the closest of which is Massarosa, five minutes' drive away. Your terrace presides over the lot, providing the ideal location for a crisp vino Bianco. Rooms are airy with beamed ceilings and an open-plan kitchen means everyone can get involved come dinnertime.
Details Seven nights' self-catering for eight from £6,539
(tuscanynowandmore.com). Fly to Pisa
