In the early 1800s, the Romantic poets traversed Tuscany, taking inspiration from its landscape, history, and vibrant cultural scene to imbue their avant-garde literature. This Tuscan property dates from that period and was initially used as an observation point over the Serchio Valley.

The 15-bedroom villa, which is for sale in Ponte a Moriano, Lucca, via Knight Frank for €2.7m, has a wealth of history and period features. The estate itself spans 1.73 acres and dates back to the medieval period (the foundation stones of the current villa incorporate an earlier dwelling from this time). The present structure was renovated in the 1960s and converted into five independent apartments.

Rooms have original frescoed ceilings and walls, mouldings and cornicing and marble floors.

Among them are three large halls and three dining rooms, which historically hosted guests and are suitably decorated for ostentatious occasions, with original frescoed ceilings and walls, period mouldings and elaborate marble floors.

Also on the estate is the farmer’s house, which includes a private chapel, a 130 sq m lemon house, a 150 sq m barn, and other service buildings of approximately 125 sq m. But the crowning gem is the Tempietto, or ‘temple’, and terrace, which dates from 1813 and is reminiscent of an ancient Roman temple with stone columns.

While the villa is in good condition and habitable, it is being marketed as a renovation project (after all, it was last ‘renovated’ in the 1960s). The annexes require a lot more elbow grease to bring them back into full use, offering a substantial renovation challenge for whoever takes it on the Italian property.

Read next: Inside Lucca —the fortress town that became a jazz mecca

Rustic Puglian countryside retreat Tenuta Masseriola comes to market