Creative and Painting Holidays at The Old Olive Press in Tuscany, Italy

Ciao from Tuscany!

The Old Olive Press, 'Il Vecchio Frantoio', is a collection of old agricultural buildings lovingly reconstructed to provide a venue for small groups to get together and enjoy their common interests, such as painting, photography, walking and creative writing. The house has four double/twin bedrooms, all with private bathrooms, and can comfortably accommodate up to eight guests. There is a fully equipped modern kitchen and a large living room, where in the winter months you can enjoy relaxing by a large open fireplace.

The stone courtyard is the perfect place to enjoy breakfast or lunch, al fresco aperitivi or a bbq. We also have a small pool located on the private lower terrace, with amazing views across the valley, where you can relax in the shade or sunbathe under the warm Italian sun. Beyond the pool terrace is a track that leads down into the olive groves, delightful to explore with its many old mule tracks. From Terenzano you can partake in several walks into the surrounding landscape and beyond. This northern Tuscan landscape, seamed with ancient mule tracks linking medieval hilltop villages, with their Romanesque churches and decaying castles, abounding in an abundance of flora and fauna, makes this a magical place to explore. If you enjoy wild swimming there are opportunities in the local rivers and waterfalls.

In and around The Old Olive Press

Lower terrace & pool on a warm sunny day
Courtyard viewed from under the pergular
Country track leading from the house down into the olive groves
Double doors opening out onto the pool terrace, with view down the valley
Comfortable and spacious living room with large sofas and open fire place
Modern fully equiped kitchen with large country style table
King size double or twin bedded bedroom with ensuite shower room
Standard double bedroom with ensuite shower room
Stone Courtyard with large table which easily seats eight people, perfect for BBQing
View of the rear of the house, taken from the track below

We are located in Terenzano, a small farming village overlooking the Alpi Apuane mountains of Carrara in the most northern part of Tuscany. The Romans called this area Lunigiana because of the luminosity on the marble reflected by the moon. Nestled between Tuscany's Marble Alps and Liguria, Lunigiana is often referred to as "the land of castles" and the area remains mostly untouched by our modern age and here you will experience the peace and tranquility of the Italian countryside.

The village is about a ten minutes drive from the fortified Medici town of Fivizzano; a small, lively market town running many cultural and food events throughout the year. Fivizzano has many restaurants, bars and alimentari where you can purchase local produce.

Nearby places of interest ↓

The small town of Fivizzano in Lunigiana. The main piazza, Piazza Vittorio Emanuele II, dominated by its fountain Image courtesy of Nigel Lawcett
Piazza Vittorio Emanuele II, Fivizzano.
Codiponte
Nearby village of Codiponte.
Arriving to one of the Cinque Terra villages by boat
Arriving to the Cinque Terre by boat.
Fosdinovo Castle
Fosdinovo Castle.
Picture of Portovenere taken from the sea
The beautiful seaside town of Portovenere.
Lerici bay and marina, and its 12th century castle which was used to control the entrance to La Spezia
Lerici is one of the most beautiful seasside villages in Liguria..
Relaxing on a hot summers day in a bar by Lerici beach, drinking an Aperol Spritz
Enjoyng a cold Aperol Spritz by Lerici beach.

Just over an hour's drive away is the Italian Riviera and the Unesco World Heritage Site of the Cinque Terre or 'five lands', which is a string of five fishing villages overlooking the sea. An ancient system of footpaths is still the best way to visit these beautiful towns, but they can also be approached by ferryboat. Lerici is a beautiful, historic town with perfect swimming and in the summer months offers markets and many aperitivi bars and restaurants.

Creative & Painting Holidays for 2024

Join us for a wonderful Creative Holiday in Italy. Learn from one of our experienced tutors whilst relaxing in beautiful surroundings, visiting fascinating medieval towns and eating and drinking the best of what Italy has to offer. All our holidays are a perfect balance between learning new skills, socialising and relaxing. This year we are excited to welcome back Karen Pearce, a popular and dedicated art tutor with over 30 years teaching experience under her belt. We are also thrilled to welcome Karens sister Liz Pearce, a creative writer and Rachel Painter, artist and art tutor.

Important Coronavirus Information

For information about how we are dealing with the Coronavirus, please visit our Coronavirus Information Page.