Crespina

Crespina witnessed the destruction of its castle, of which there is now no trace, during the conflicts between Pisa and Florence. At the end of the 18th century life revolved around the large noble villas; new, beautiful villas were built in Crespina in the 19th century, made famous by the visiting painters and artists, such as Giovanni Battista Tempesti, Silvestro Lega and Giovanni Fattori, disciples of the Macchiaioli movement.

Villa Belvedere is one of the more interesting villas, with its panoramic location and English style gardens and lemonary, while Villa Corsini Valdisonzi, Villa Il Poggio, the Villa-museum Carlo Pepi, belonging to the well-known art critic, Carlo Pepi and open to the public with an extensive collection of contemporary art.

This land also produces fine wine thanks to the presence of companies that take on the innovative criteria to guarantee quality production, as has happened at Cenaia, where the Cantina dei Vini delle Colline Pisane is located.

The pleasantly mild climate and natural environment are enhanced by numerous water ways and ponds that have allowed Crespina to become an internationally recognised flora-nursery centre, to such an extent that every year, in the month of September, the flora and wine review, Rassegna del Vino e del Florovivaismo, is held in Cenaia.

Another century-old tradition is owl breeding, an animal once used for hunting larks. The owl has always represented a true symbol of rural folklore: an important fair is held in its honour on 29 September and there is also a monument in the town and a breeding centre that the Municipality plans to transform into an open-air shelter for protected species.

Useful links

Website of municipality of Crespina
Events in Crespina
Where to sleep