The mills are constructions that always manage to fascinate the collective imagination. These structures in fact immediately bring back to fantastic scenarios that lodge in the mind of each of us.

Windmills, pushed by animals or water, the charm does not change. They were built to grind flour, cereals and malt thanks to their grindstone, the stone wheel that gave rise to the name of the building.

Origin of the Mills

The origin of the mills seems to be Persian and, according to many studies, they were transplanted to Europe only starting from the twelfth century.

Symbolically they are linked to Don Chisciotte who specialized in the fight against wind blowers, and to Holland which is particularly rich in them and which has transformed them into a real tourist attraction.

But to immerse yourself in the timeless charm of the mills, you don’t need to arrive in the land of tulips: in Tuscany there are dozens of old mills that in many cases have been adapted and host splendid activities.

The Tuscany of the mills

Tuscany is known for its typical beauties that have made painters and poets fall in love with it, for the gentle countryside, the vines perched on soft hills and the dreamy landscapes.

But this land that gave birth to many artists also collects many old mills that still give an incredible charm to visitors from all over the world. Let’s see some of them below.

Candalla Mill in Camaiore

An excellent example of the recovery of these structures that marked an era is in the hills of Camaiore, a few steps from Viareggio.

In fact, in Candalla they converted the old mill into a typical Tuscan tavern. The setting is absolutely wonderful: in the midst of clear and uncontaminated nature, the Lombricese river flows and next to it stands the only building in the area: the mill.

Mulinaccio of Scandicci

The province of Florence is full of small hidden treasures from major tourist itineraries. The Mulinaccio di Scandicci fits perfectly among these precious gems.

We are talking about an ancient mill from the 1600s that retains all the charm of such an ancient and picturesque hydraulic mill.

The Mulino delle Pile in Chiusdino

The Mulino delle Pile, in Chiusdino in the province of Siena, is undoubtedly an incredible testimony to the charm of the mills. In fact, this particular building became famous when it was stylized in the logo of the infamous “Mulino Bianco” company.

The structure has been converted into a farmhouse, which has become a point of reference for all those who love to ride a horse or a bike, along roads and paths that are not very popular with tourism.

The Pontassieve mill

The Pontassieve windmill has also been fortunately converted into a farmhouse, bed & breakfast and organic farm.

In this enchanted place it is natural to take care of yourself and combine traditional cuisine and walks in the open air with wonderful views.

The Mill of Orbetello

Right in the middle of the sea, as if directly rising from the waves, is the beautiful Orbetello mill. In this splendid lagoon this curious construction has stood since 1600, which was born with defensive tasks and which was later adapted to a mill.

The grinding of wheat and wheat, using the energy produced by currents, was undoubtedly a better investment.

Seeing this mill floating on the water, with its blades exposed to the winds, is something that is not easily forgotten.

Discovering mills in Tuscany

If you too want to discover the most beautiful mills in Tuscany, we are waiting for you at Villa Campestri Olive Oil Resort, where you can stay in the countryside just a few kilometers from Florence!