La Macina di San Cresci: A Sanctuary for Artists
My bags are packed and I’m counting down the hours until I return to my artistic and spiritual home: La Macina di San Cresci, an artist residency in Tuscany, Italy.
Outside the church and artist residency
My family and I had the privilege of staying at San Cresci two years ago. I even wrote about it in my very first blog post . It’s hard to put into words the magic of this artistic oasis… but maybe the best place to start is with its history.
The Place
San Cresci is a large complex that now includes a (non-operational) parish church, the owners’ residence, two artist apartments, a spacious communal basement studio, an exhibition space, and a walled garden with sweeping views across the town of Greve in Chianti and the medieval village of Montefioralle.
The parish church itself dates back to 948—the oldest in the region. Over time, it has been lovingly restored by its current caretakers: Florentine architect Demetria (Mimma) Verduci and world-renowned light sculptor Professor Duccio Trassinelli.
About 17 years ago, Mimma and Duccio opened the doors of San Cresci as an international artist residency, welcoming creatives from all disciplines. When my family and I stayed, we shared the space with three artists from the US: a choreographer, a visual artist, and a graphic designer.
Layers of History
Nestled among Tuscan olive groves and vineyards, the modest sandstone church still holds traces of its Romanesque past, including original entrance arches. Inside, the walls are adorned with delicate frescoes from the 1800s. Behind the marble altar rests a 1615 canvas by Francesco Boldrini, depicting the Madonna of Rosario, alongside a 16th-century wooden crucifix. The red-and-white tiled floor bears a worn groove, marked by centuries of parishioners’ footsteps.
The church is named after the Holy Martyr Acrisio—better known as Cresci. For centuries, it served as a stop for pilgrims passing through Greve on their way to Rome. They would often leave their most valuable possessions for safekeeping until their return. Mimma likes to joke about hoping for a hidden treasure during the 1994–1997 restoration… but nothing was found.
What was discovered, however, was a Longobard stone—possibly dating back to 500–700 AD, when the Lombards ruled large parts of Italy.
In more recent history, the villa became home in the 1970s to French philosopher Guy Debord and writer Gianfranco Sanguinetti, adding yet another layer to its fascinating story.
Images Above: work created in 2014 while in residence at La Macina Di San Cresci
Looking Ahead
The history of San Cresci is long, rich, and endlessly inspiring. I can’t wait to immerse myself once again in this place—its stories, its art, its gardens—and spend warm Tuscan nights with Mimma, talking about Roman architecture, Italian life, and perhaps even Guy Debord.
Yours in art,
Bec x
