La Macchina Fissa
is the fourth and current seat of the cultural association Reading Retreats in Rural Italy, a peaceful hideaway for bibliophiles from all over the world. Located along the Mincio River, La Macchina Fissa is a former pumphouse that welcomes travellers, readers, writers, and creative people looking for inspiration, rest, and good company.
What We Offer
Reading Retreats
Guests come alone, as couples, or in groups of up to 15 people. Some read hours a day, some don't read at all!
Internships
Are you about to take a gap year, career break or holiday as a retiree? We offer one-to-three-month internships.
Cultural Events
We host concerts, art exhibitions, book presentations, small theatrical productions and much more!
The House
Combine a 17th Century villa with a 19th Century pumphouse and several annexes from the early 20th Century and you have La Macchina Fissa!
The Garden
Pumpkins, palms, pomegranates and peonies, our garden is a joyful, exuberant mix of over one thousand species of plants, many grown from seed.
The Association
Reading Retreats in Rural Italy was founded as more than just a place to stay or attend a cultural event, it is a home away from home, for Clark and his guests!
The Books
Nearly 8000 books and periodicals in a mix of mostly English and Italian, with a smattering of Greek, Latin, French, German, Spanish and Russian.
The Art
Reading Retreats is also a house museum and gallery, with over 500 artworks in the permanent collection as well as temporary exhibitions.
Our Pets
Please do not bring your own pets because we have plenty already! Our goats, peacocks, chickens and three cats have found a peaceful equilibrium.
Our Community
Nearly five hundred people visit us annually, so it would be untrue to say they are like-minded. From infants to nonagenarians who come from forty countries, we like to meet and mix writers, chefs, painters, musicians, woodworkers, scientists, singers, psychologists, gardeners, teachers, librarians, bankers, lawyers, architects, city planners, interior designers, actors, doctors, construction workers, antique dealers, tailors, farmers, engineers, beauticians, chiropractors, business owners, IT people, acrobats, photographers, magazine editors, journalists, historians, dancers, models, mortitians and as one of our very first guests in 1996 defined herself, "trophy wives"!
Photographic proof