Our History

Villa Meleto has always been full of life. We aim to rebirth this history.

Meleto came to prominence through the work of agronomist, politician, and professor Cosimo Ridolfi, who lived here with his wife and children during the 1800s. He introduced ingenious prototypes, inventions, and philosophies, which remain documented in his study adjacent to the villa’s great hall.

After Ridolfi’s tenure at Meleto, the estate became an intricate web of people, activities, and customs. During the 1900s, over 80 families lived on the property, and each contributed to the overall functioning of the place, which was its own operation. The families harvested grapes and olives in the fields; they brewed wine, olive oil, and beer in the cellar; they hunted animals in the surrounding forest and ran their very own farm; they ate fresh meat at the hands of their personal butcher; they ran a tobacco plant down the road where they harvested, created, and distributed tobacco; they prayed in their very own church.

These families crafted the long-lasting memory of the estate, which has been passed down from one generation to the next. Their humble and detailed projects and customs remain alive and well.

Villa Meleto, which is historically protected by the Italian government, will host our luxury hotel. The building is currently under detailed property renovation and restoration. The farmhouse accommodations are fully renovated and open to our guests. We expect to open our hotel in June 2022.