Below you'll find answers to the questions we're asked most frequently about Villa Castellaccia: its history, the spaces, planning weddings and events, costs and logistics for you and your guests.
Villa Castellaccia was built in 1910 in the heart of the Maremma, along the road between Giuncarico and Ribolla, first as a farmhouse and later as a manor house. Over time the building evolved in several stages: initially a two-storey central block with a small tower was built; the tower was later demolished and an L-shaped wing was added, with extra bedrooms and the caretaker's house.
The name of the Castellaccia locality, in the municipality of Gavorrano (Grosseto), comes from the remains of a medieval castle nearby. The place name is linked to the fortified ruins visible near the neighbouring Poggio Zenone, which locals historically called "la Castellaccia".
The villa was built by the Benini family, who wanted it as the administrative and residential hub of the Castellaccia farming estate: the area's agricultural activities were coordinated from here, while also providing the landowners with a stately residence.
Until the 2000s the villa retained a classic, stately style. With the arrival of the Dini family, and in particular interior designer Carlo Dini, it underwent several renovation projects.
The families who lived in the villa for extended periods are the Benini family, the Citati family and, today, the Dini family, who now look after and manage it.
Besides the Benini family, members of the Tuscan upper middle class, with the arrival of the Citati family, and in particular Pietro Citati, the villa began hosting important figures of twentieth-century Italian literature and culture. Regular guests of Professor Citati included, among others, Italo Calvino, Carlo Fruttero, Franco Lucentini, Marino Barchiesi and Federico Fellini.
In the Red Study, on the ground floor of the villa's historic wing, Italo Calvino wrote some pages of Invisible Cities.
The villa underwent a major restoration in the 2000s led by interior designer Carlo Dini, who enhanced both the indoor and outdoor spaces, bringing light back to elements that had long been neglected. The only room never touched is the main reception hall: the very room Carlo Dini fell in love with, which led to the purchase of the property.
Today the Dini family is the soul of the villa: they organise private events, public events, and cultural and theatrical events.
The Chapel of Sant'Oliva was the village church of the Castellaccia estate, the spiritual centre for the workers and their families. Over time it has remained part of the villa's property.
Yes, the Chapel of Sant'Oliva is consecrated and religious services can be held there.
The English garden is the result of the work of every owner who has lived at the villa, each of whom contributed to its growth. The Dini family further enhanced its beauty with targeted interventions, such as the ivy-covered berceau and the small lake.
The park is home to a wide variety of trees. Among the most important, now centuries old, are several American red oaks, cedars of Lebanon and holm oaks in the English garden. The chapel, meanwhile, is surrounded by around twenty olive trees, still productive today.
The lemon house, also known as the Chess Room, was built in the style of the old Tuscan lemon houses and French orangeries. Today it hosts events, especially in case of bad weather, and offers an enchanting view over the English garden, enhanced by a small fountain.
The local area recognises the villa's structuring role for the entire foothill zone: from it branches the main comb-shaped road network that historically organised the work of the farms and the surrounding rural settlement. The villa is surrounded by direct evidence of the rural Maremma life of the time, such as the old decorated olive mill, characterised by the typical and refined ornamental use of Tuscan brick. The estate's historic holdings also included a stone quarry a little further north. Even today the property works with local authorities to put on cultural events open to the public.
Several music videos have been filmed at the villa, along with numerous private photo shoots.
The villa can host up to 220 people. The maximum number for which an indoor backup plan is guaranteed in case of bad weather, without needing to hire outdoor marquees, is 180 people.
Yes: in case of bad weather, the villa's ground-floor reception rooms and the Chess Room can be used.
For the ceremony, the chapel, the front park and the holm oak grove are available. For the rest of the event, you can enjoy the pool area with its elegant lounge, the English garden, the villa's ground-floor reception rooms and the Chess Room.
Yes, the villa is always rented exclusively: we do not host tourist accommodation or other events at the same time.
Yes, it's possible, and indeed recommended, to visit the villa before booking. Visits can be arranged by writing to info@villacastellaccia.com or calling +39 392 501 8890.
Yes, the property has on-site parking with around 30-40 spaces. If these fill up, additional parking is available in the hamlet just outside the gates.
Yes, pets are allowed, provided they stay outside the villa: the indoor rooms have original parquet flooring that could be damaged.
Options are available that allow the celebration to continue with no time limit.
Yes, the event can be set up as you prefer, provided the property is not damaged (holes in walls, holes in the ground, branch cutting, etc.). More complex setups require the property's approval.
Yes, the use of drones for photos and videos is allowed.
Fireworks are allowed, both evening and daytime (during dry periods this is assessed case by case due to fire risk), as are bubbles, rice and confetti, the latter only if made of paper or biodegradable material.
The property has numerous power outlets distributed throughout the outdoor area.
Inside the villa, wifi coverage is available in every room. In the outdoor areas, signal is guaranteed in the immediate vicinity of the main building.
Two bathrooms are available in the Chess Room area, one bathroom in the pool area, and one bathroom on the ground-floor reception level.
Smoking is only allowed outdoors on the property, using the ashtrays provided by the catering service or by putting out the cigarette and disposing of it in the bin. Throwing cigarette butts on the ground is strictly forbidden, particularly during dry periods.
Villa Castellaccia offers the possibility of holding a religious ceremony in the Chapel of Sant'Oliva or a symbolic ceremony in the park.
The Chapel of Sant'Oliva can seat up to 40 people.
In case of rain, the symbolic ceremony can be moved to the villa's historic hall. For the religious ceremony, we recommend arranging a backup plan in advance with a local parish.
We recommend bringing your own officiant.
At the moment Villa Castellaccia does not offer an in-house event planner service, but we can recommend several professionals we have worked with for a long time.
Starting from the 2027 season, Villa Castellaccia will offer an in-house catering service, to ensure complete control over every aspect of the event and the best possible result.
The villa offers several packages, which can be reviewed during a visit or on request through our contacts.
Yes, Villa Castellaccia guarantees a welcome service for the couple and their guests, as well as support and supervision throughout the event, to ensure the best possible result.
Yes, it's possible to stay overnight at the villa, not only on the night of the event. Rooms cannot be booked directly by guests: their assignment is at the discretion of the couple.
Setup is allowed on the day of the event itself, and breakdown by the following day. Any special requirements should be arranged directly with the property.
Yes, the villa offers the option of getting ready directly in your own rooms.
Yes, a menu tasting can be arranged before the event, in agreement with the property. The tasting is subject to payment of the deposit, and a satisfaction-guaranteed policy applies: if during the tasting we are unable to meet your requests, even after any adjustments and customisations, you may cancel the event booking and the deposit will be fully refunded.
Yes, Villa Castellaccia works with trusted suppliers, in some cases for over 20 years, and we'll be happy to recommend them if needed.
Yes, a deposit is required to secure a date.
No, no security deposit is required.
There is no minimum number of guests: naturally, with fewer guests, the per-person catering cost will be proportionally higher.
It's strongly recommended to secure the date with a deposit as soon as possible, so it becomes immediately unavailable to other clients.
Yes, the villa is available for any type of event, including corporate events, meetings and conventions.
Yes, the villa regularly hosts private parties such as 18th birthdays, baby reveals and other celebrations.
Yes, the villa is also available for christenings and communions.
Yes, the villa is available for private photo shoots.
Yes, the villa is available for short films and film or advertising productions: it's a particularly well-suited location thanks to the ample space also available for production equipment.
Yes: the villa's main hall has perfect acoustics for live music concerts, acting almost like a soundboard, while the Chess Room is well suited to performances and exhibitions.
Yes, throughout the year the villa organises several events open to the public, curated by our artistic direction.
Scorzagialla is our in-house catering, created to complete the experience at Villa Castellaccia.
The villa is not normally open to the public outside of the scheduled public events.
Villa Castellaccia is located in the province of Grosseto, at via Toscana 2, Castellaccia locality, Gavorrano, about 20 minutes by car from Grosseto and 25 minutes from Follonica. The sea at Castiglione della Pescaia is about 30 km away. The new Via Aurelia runs near the villa, providing easy access to Rome (about 2 hours), Florence (about 2 hours 30), Livorno (about 1 hour 15), Pisa (about 1 hour 30), Lucca (about 1 hour 50) and Siena (about 1 hour 40). See also the Map page for directions.
The nearest airports are Rome Fiumicino, Rome Ciampino, Pisa Galileo Galilei and Florence Amerigo Vespucci. Grosseto also has a small airport for private flights and some scheduled flights from abroad.
There are several accommodation options near the property, all reachable by car.
We don't offer a shuttle service by default, but one can be arranged on request.