Apartment “olive house”
Taking its name from the olive oil press situated in the living room, this centuries old press also gives the apartment its special character. We have created a distinctive and well proportioned home, where once Villa Meleto's olives would be pressed into olive oil. The interior is tastefully decorated and finished in the classic tuscan styleThe tasteful furnishings, featuring copper toned rustic cotto floors and beautiful wood beamed ceilings. The kitchen-living room area has direct access to your terrace in the garden behind the house. The property is located on the ground floor of an apartment block composed of four seperate flats.
Casa Frantoio facilities
Ground floor home suitable for 4 people, 135 m2, 1 bedroom with double bed, 1 bedroom with two single beds (can be converted into a double bed),1 very large eat-in kitchen, which adorns the old olive oil press (4-plate stove, oven, refrigerator, freezer, washing machine, dishwasher ), "49" smart TV, bathroom (shower, toilet), separate entrance, direct access to your own garden with seating, deck chairs
for shared use: swimming pool (15 x 7 m)
Additional information
Located in the heart of Tuscany the Villa di Meleto estate covers an area of 300 hectares. The villa is located in an enclosed tree lined area of 3 hectares (30,000 square meters), in which our holiday homes and apartments, an Italian park, a large swimming pool, panoramic terrace and much more are to be found.
Italian park and surrounding land
Enjoy the stunning panorama of this unique landscape while strolling through our well-tended park. Here you can stroll between historical statues, box hedging which surround antique rose flowerbeds. In this part of the estate you can see many species of trees and plants, cypress, olive and holm oak trees, colorful hydrangea, bougainvillea, wisteria are just some of the types you can encounter during a stroll around the park area. Just behind the park area looking towards the town of Castelnuovo d’Elsa you can find our swimming pool.
Within the Villa’s grounds there is a large forest and medium sized lake which visitors can explore, perfect for those who like taking long leisurely walks and are fond of nature and peaceful environments. Once you arrive we will be delighted to give you a quick tour of our land so you will know your way around
History of Villa di Meleto
The Villa di Meleto is a historic noble villa that passed into the possession of the Ridolfi family in 1569. It was made famous by the Marchese Cosimo Ridolfi (1794-1865), one of the leading figures in the Risorgimento of Tuscany in the 19th century. He was a member of numerous associations and learned societies, was Minister of State during the Revolution of 1848 and Minister of Foreign Affairs of Tuscany from 1859 to 1860.
Ridolfi archives
On his Meleto estate, Cosimo Ridolfi founded Italy's first agricultural institute in 1834, in which agricultural innovations in the form of new equipment and cultivation methods were researched, tested and put into use. Up to 30 students were enrolled in the Scuola Agraria di Meleto and completed a theoretically and practically guided study of modern agriculture.
The great success gained by the Meleto School led the Grand Duke of Tuscany, Leopold II, to establish in 1840 a chair dedicated to agriculture and sheep-farming at the University of Pisa, entrusting it to Cosimo Ridolfi. This chair was the first step of today’s Faculty of Agriculture, the first one ever in the world. Before this, inside the main villa, Cosimo Ridolfi and his estate manager Agostino Testaferrata invented new irrigation methods in the 1820s, the so-called Sistemazione a spina. It is a system of ditches that prevented the erosion of the hilly soil and achieved the even distribution of the fertile soil. The sistemazione a spina name - is derived from the herringbone pattern that can be seen from afar when looking at the hill.
The institute’s main strength was alternation between studying and working, so as to let students learn the secrets of agriculture by performing the same tasks as farmers. The Villa’s archives are of great cultural importance as they hold important records of this time period, which was fundamental for the technological and scientific development of modern agriculture. The archive is located in a room inside the main villa and contains all of Ridolfi’s records and collections, such as his butterflies and waxed fruits. Visits to the archive room can be arranged in advance.
Future projects
Villa Meleto was purchased by the new owner Carmencita in 2020. Her plan is to fully renovate the main villa and transform it into a hotel with 17 suites. There will also be a spa and wellness area within the villa itself. Carmencita is also taking steps to open up an educational program for neurodivergent students. This program will run during the academic year in a separate part of the Villa. The idea is for the students to be involved in the day to day care of the farm and learn the various techniques needed to make specific products from what is grown or produced on the Villa Meleto estate. One example is essential oils made from our lavender. We also have various farm animals at the Villa, donkeys, goats, chickens, ducks and rabbits. These animals are going to be involved in our neuro diversity program, but can also be visited and enjoyed by our guests, especially those with children.
