Come with us on a tour of La Machinna Fissa, home to Reading Retreats in Rural Italy, a cultural association founded by Clark Lawrence, where literature, art, and gardening are part of everyday life.
The retreat is is located in Borgo Virgilio, just outside of Mantua.
The interiors include large common spaces with fireplaces, sofas, armchairs, and three pianos, as well as a small cinema and two kitchens.
A guest room with a view of the grounds.
Then there is the garden, an ever-changing, ever-evolving piece of art, patiently and passionately curated.
La Macchina Fissa is an ideal place to share stories and replenish the soul through contact with nature and naturalistic gardens. I
The founder’s favorite plants are often members of the Cucurbitaceae family; pumpkins, bittergourds, luffa, ornamental cucumbers, and squash of all sizes, textures, and colors.
La Macchina Fissa is in Borgo Virgilio, birthplace of Virgil, and a 20 -minute drive south of Mantua.