The Insight Series : La Casaccia Bellariva - In the home of the Tommasi's, the Macchiaioli's Cenacle.

Attribuito a Odoardo BORRANI (Pisa 1833 - Firenze 1905)

La Casaccia sull'Arno (photo Finarte)

Villa La Casaccia, located on the right bank of the Arno in Bellariva close to Florence, is a historic Renaissance residence that became a key center of the Macchiaioli movement in the late 19th century. Mentioned as early as the 15th century in Leonardo da Vinci’s notebooks, it became an artistic hub under the Alighieri family in the 16th century. It was later bought by Giuliano di Jacopo, who opened an art workshop. 

The villa passed to Adele Bertolini through her first marriage, and in 1881, she moved there with her new husband, Luigi Tommasi of Livorno. From that point onward, the Tommasi family resided at La Casaccia to nurture the artistic talents of their children, particularly Angiolo (a student at the Academy of Fine Arts) and Ludovico (who was studying at the Florence Conservatory). During a difficult period in his life, the renowned Macchiaioli painter Silvestro Lega lived at La Casaccia for over a year. He contributed to the artistic education of Angiolo and Ludovico.  

Silvestro LEGA (Modigliana 1826 - Firenze 1895)

L'Arno alla Casaccia (dal Cofanetto Tommasi) (photo Farsetti Arte)

The villa soon became an intellectual crossroads, hosting Macchiaioli painters such as Giovanni Fattori, Giuseppe Abbati, Telemaco Signorini, Giuseppe Abbati, Francesco and Luigi Gioli, Vittorio Corcos, and Adriano Cecioni, as well as writers like Giosuè Carducci and journalist Anna Franchi. This group became known as the Bellariva Cenacle. Many of these artists were also associated with the nearby School of Pergentina.

A regular guest at the villa, Anna Franchi recalled in her memoirs the festive and cultural atmosphere of La Casaccia, where the young Ludovico would play, often performing music by Chopin. She was a key witness to the world of the Macchiaioli who lived and worked at La Casaccia during that time.

Ludovico TOMMASI (Livorno 1866 - Firenze 1941)

Figures with a baby

Exhibition at Villa Il Palmerino (26.06 / 31.08 2025)

Unfortunately, this artistic atmosphere has now disappeared. The house has been transformed into a hotel, which no longer seeks to promote or preserve its rich cultural history.

Current view of La Cassaccia, now converted into a hotel