For italian art lovers

Home description

A monumental 17th century villa opens its doors to show you the stunning paintings which adorn its walls and ceilings, and welcome you in the atmosphere of a charming and comfortable apartment.

Many books have been written about the palace and the fascinating history of its ancient owners. Don't miss the opportunity to see the frescoes, to learn more about the intriguing saga of a family which played a significant role in Italian art and history, and to get the feel of this seductive mansion.

Located just 2 minutes from the motorway exit, the property is the ideal base for your art itineraries: Pisa is only 5 minutes driving, Lucca 30, Firenze and Pistoia 50, Volterra 60, Siena 90.

If you don't like driving, don't worry: car is not necessary! Public means of transport are available and convenient: the bus stop is only 400 meters from the villa and the train station is only 700 metres. Travelling by train or bus is inexpensive in Italy and you can easily get to Pisa city centre in 7 minutes by train and 15 by bus. Train is also the fastest and more convenient way to Florence, with departures every hour from the local station with direct journey of 60 minutes and arrival just in the very city centre. There are also good railway or bus connections for Siena, Lucca, Pistoia, Prato, Volterra.

Besides the most famous cities, why not discover other amazing art treasures kept in less known towns and villages? Calci, with its Certosa (a remarkable monastry in the country), S. Miniato, a wonderful old town situated at the top of a hill, S. Pietro a Grado with its beautiful Basilica, S. Casciano\'s Church with its medieval frescoes, S. Giovanni Oratory in Cascina, just to mention some!

After a cultural tour, relax lying on the sun beds in the large garden which surrounds the palace or reading a good book in the shade of age-old plane trees while sipping a fresh orange juice.

Take exercice in the garden playing table tennis or badminton or go for a trip with the bicycles at your disposal. Public tennis courts and swimming pools are just a few minutes driving from the palace.

Do you like Italian food?

Cook yourself traditional Italian dishes in the fully equipped kitchen. A recipe book is at your disposal inside the apartment; you can add recipes from your country for the following guests to try.

As for the sea, Tirrenia (Pisa beach) it is only 20 minutes driving, but you can also easily get to many other famous places on the coast of Tuscany: Viareggio, Forte dei Marmi, Calafuria, Castiglioncello, Marina di Bibbona, Donoratico (30 to 50 minutes driving): you'll have a wide range of beaches, cliffs and pine forests to choose among.

Fond of fitness and spas? Uliveto, Casciana and S. Giuliano, thermal spas famous for beauty treatments and drinking water with curative power are not far (10 to 35 minutes driving).

Location

Cascina is a town in Toscana (Tuscany) regione, central Italy. Local mineral springs are used to treat rheumatism. The town's Church of Santa Maria, built in Pisan style, dates from the 12th century. Cascina was a historic battleground in the Pisans' resistance against the Florentines, who sacked the town in 1364; remnants of its ancient ramparts are preserved.

Cascina is a comune (municipality) in the Province of Pisa in the Italian region Tuscany, located about 60 km west of Florence and about 13 km southeast of Pisa.

Cascina is located on the left shore of the Arno River, on a markedly plain terrain. The comune borders the following municipalities: Calcinaia, Collesalvetti, Crespina, Lari, Pisa, Pontedera, San Giuliano Terme, Vicopisano.

Main sights

Medieval walls.
Castle of Ripoli.
Pieve di Santa Maria.
Oratorio di San Giovanni.
Church of the Madonna dell'Acqua (Madonna of the Water).

In locality Zambra is a 9th century church with unusual wall paintings of fish in pre-Romanesque style. At San Casciano a Settimo, a frazione with c. 3,000 inhabitants, is a basilica, renovated in the 12th century in Pisane-Gothic style.

The frazione of Marciana has the church of San Miniato (10th century). At Montione is the Abbey of San Savino.