When, in 1954, my grandmother landed on Elba for the first time, she immediately fell in love with it. She travelled all over the island and, in the end, found a property on the Gulf of Portoferraio with a magnificent 19th Century villa built right by the water. Next to the house there is a huge plane tree which they say was planted in honour of Napoleon’s arrival in 1814. In fact, when the French Emperor was exiled to Elba, before making his official entry into Portoferraio, he set foot on the island for the first time on this very beach.

My grandmother bought the estate and patiently began to sort the place out: planting all around the villa over 8 hectares of pines and eucalyptus trees which today have grown substantially and provide us with a scented, peaceful shade as well as providing a welcome habitat for the local fauna. In fact, while taking a pleasant stroll around the park, it is easy to come across hares, pheasants, blackbirds and other species of birds and animals which have decided to make this their home.

From that time on Casa Grande (this is what we have always called it in our family) has happily housed four generations of family and friends who have found in this place the unique pleasure of getting together to enjoy time which here seems to stop.

My name is Duccio and I have the pleasure of welcoming you to Casa Grande where you will find the unspoilt charm that has always characterized this Villa and all the amenities that will allow you to enjoy it completely. Welcome to your house where time stands still.