Holiday apartment in Crespina – art, villas and owl tradition

Crespina combines a local history shaped by aristocratic villas with art, owl tradition and a hilly landscape formed by waterways. Since the late 18th century, Crespina has been characterised by large aristocratic villas. If you are looking for a holiday apartment in Crespina, you can therefore tailor your stay to different interests: historic buildings and collections, a traditional event, or the landscapes of Crespina and Lorenzana.

Holiday apartment in Crespina for culture and special experiences

A major event in the town is the Antichissima Fiera delle Civette. It takes place every year on the feast day of Saint Michael in Crespina and is included in the regional register of historic fairs. The Fiera includes a historical and natural-history walk. The owl park can also be visited as part of the event. For families planning a shared day involving tradition, activity and animals, this combines a local festival with tangible impressions of nature and history.

The villas also give Crespina a distinctive cultural profile. Villa Belvedere is situated in a panoramic location and has an English garden and a limonaia. Villa Corsini Valdisonzi is one of the notable villas of Crespina. Villa Il Poggio is one of the 18th- and 19th-century aristocratic villas associated with Crespina Lorenzana. Those choosing accommodation for a culture-focused stay will find in these buildings various points of connection for exploring architecture, gardens and local history.

Art between collection and church

The Collezione Carlo Pepi focuses on the Macchiaioli, their successors and Fattori's students. It comprises around 10,000 works by 1,500 artists. The Carlo Pepi collection is displayed in two villas in Crespina: one is located on Via I Gioielli, the other on Piazza Battisti. This makes the collection one of the town's defining cultural attractions, without limiting its focus to a single artistic theme.

In the Chiesa di San Michele Arcangelo, the depictions entitled “Storie di Cristo e di San Michele”, created between 1950 and 1954 on the church nave ceiling, dome and apse, are by Antonio Gaioni. Crespina's villa landscape is also associated with the painters Giovanni Battista Tempesti, Silvestro Lega and Giovanni Fattori, who are considered part of the Macchiaioli art movement. In Crespina, older villa structures, an extensive art collection and sacred painting thus come together.

Owl tradition and the landscape of the Colline Pisane

The local owl tradition is connected with the historic keeping of trained owls for lark hunting in Crespina. Crespina is also home to a bronze monument to the owl, created by the sculptor Angelo Biancini. The Centro Allevamento Civette was converted into an open-air park for the care of protected species and breeds owls in captivity. These themes make the owl present in different ways in the townscape and in local experiences.

The hills of Crespina and Lorenzana are shaped by numerous waterways and support local wine production. Crespina and Lorenzana are located along the Colline Pisane Wine Trail. When choosing between a holiday apartment and a holiday house in Crespina, you can therefore consider whether you would prefer to focus your days on wine landscapes, villas and art, or on the Antichissima Fiera delle Civette. These different themes help you determine the desired rhythm of your stay when choosing the location.

More destinations for orientation

More destinations for orientation: Tripalle, Siberia.

More travel destinations

More places under the same destination:

Luciana, Montopoli In Val D'arno, Sasso Pisano, Casale Marittimo, Montescudaio.

To the higher-level travel overview: Pisa.