Casale Macina

Casale La Macina is a beautifully restored old olive mill located near Lucca just outside the charming village of Castelvecchio di Compito..  For 160 years the villa was one of the town’s main employers for the local villagers as men were employed to build dry stone walls along the olive terraces, cut back grass and weeds by hand, prune and care for the olive plants, and then at harvest time men, women and children picked the olives and prepared them ready for the pressing.

Casale La Macina has recently been extensively renovated and refurbished into a unique and stylish home. It is a perfect place for a luxurious and relaxing holiday. You can enjoy walking on some of the paths which lead directly from our doorstep through olive groves and woodland to the nearby village of Castelvecchio di Compito (10-minute walk) and over the hills to Buti (7 kilometers walk), a hill village with shops and restaurants.

Bientina, a small town just a few minutes’ drives away has full amenities including supermarkets, shops, restaurants, banks, weekly market, antique market (monthly), and in July the town holds a palio (bareback horse race) in the main square.

Casale La Macina is ideally situated for sightseeing as Lucca is only a 20-minute drive,  and Pisa and Florence are 30 and 45 minutes respectively.  The nearest train station is ten minutes from the villa in Pontedera.

Stylish and charming the interiors have been designed to complement the building. Internally the rooms are all light and spacious – the large, welcoming lounge has comfortable sofas and a wood-burning fireplace, for cooler evenings, the main dining salon is warm and atmospheric and still has the original olive grinding stones, the main kitchen with large dining table is suitable for cook school, the computer room or study is there if you feel you have to work, wine tasting room and cellar (wine provided on an honesty basis).

In addition, there is an extra ‘Summer’ kitchen which can be used when using the barbeque area or at the swimming pool. The bedrooms are all on the upper floors of the house. There are two suites with adjoining sitting areas, two large double bedrooms, and two twin bedrooms, all are en suite, air-conditioned, and beds are equipped with extremely comfortable mattresses and luxury linens to ensure restful sleep.

The large saline swimming pool takes the shape of the original mill pond and has a shallow section suitable for children. The surrounding landscaped garden is perfect for relaxing and has ample umbrellas and sunbeds.  The terraces around the house are equipped with dining tables, chairs, and deckchairs and take full advantage of the breathtaking views. The herb garden next to the main kitchen has a wide variety of Mediterranean herbs, and there is also a vegetable garden.

Only 15 minutes drive from La Macina is the spectacularly beautiful little hill town famous for producing Montecarlo DOC certified white and red wines. It is a small town with narrow streets so it is best to park just outside the ancient walls and walk-in (a few minutes).  You can choose to eat or drink in a number of traditional trattorias, good quality restaurants, enotecas, and cafes. Many of the wine producers offer tastings and cellar visits including the very good Fattoria Di Montechiari, Fattoria La Torre or Tenuta del Buonamico, and each year at the end of August/beginning of September the highly recommended Montecarlo wine festival is held.

Please note that the last 800 meters to the villa (1/2 mile) is a dirt road not suited for low riding sports cars.  Minivans and normal cars have no problem reaching the villa!

Please click here to see if Casale La Macina is available in the dates you are interested in!