For decades, Terzo di Danciano stood dormant, a quiet witness to the end of a way of life.

Then in 2000 Luca Francia, an artist and project manager originally from Piemonte purchased the estate and began a meticulous thirteen year restoration, carefully revealing layers of the villa’s history. Original stonework, arches, and plaster were carefully preserved, honoring the site’s heritage while thoughtfully integrating modern comforts, setting up the next  chapter in Terzo’s rich story. 

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Today this ancient villa is filled with life, as Luca and his partner Kriszti Van Slyke host joyful celebrations, replenishing escapes, and inspiring retreats amidst the historic ancient olive groves and woodlands of the Pierle Valley. Today, they invite you to experience Terzo di Danciano’s timeless charm and become part of its continuing story.

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In the early 1500s,  this hamlet offered refuge to travelers and military, and was defended by four towers. The unification of Italy in 1861 ushered in a more peaceful era, however, and by the 1880s, a new owner transitioned Terzo di Danciano from a military outpost to an agricultural estate.  Using the stones from the dismantled keep, an enormous multi-story barn was constructed, dedicated to the production of Vino Santo and silk. In the mid-20th century, however, agrarian reforms led to widespread rural depopulation as families moved to cities for more industrial jobs. 

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For decades, Terzo di Danciano stood dormant, a quiet witness to the end of a way of life.

​

Then in 2000 Luca Francia, an artist and project manager originally from Piemonte purchased the estate and began a meticulous thirteen year restoration, carefully revealing layers of the villa’s history. Original stonework, arches, and plaster were carefully preserved, honoring the site’s heritage while thoughtfully integrating modern comforts, setting up the next  chapter in Terzo’s rich story. 

​

Today this ancient villa is filled with life, as Luca and his partner Kriszti Van Slyke host joyful celebrations, replenishing escapes, and inspiring retreats amidst the historic ancient olive groves and woodlands of the Pierle Valley. Today, they invite you to experience Terzo di Danciano’s timeless charm and become part of its continuing story.