Choose this art-filled country house for an Emilian food-focused stay with gardens and room to retreat beyond Modena’s historic centre.
Casa Maria Luigia is an intimate country house in San Damaso, in the agricultural landscape outside Modena. Its individually designed rooms draw on contemporary art, books, vinyl and pieces from the owners’ collection; a separate cottage, Luigina, offers three ensuite bedrooms and its own pool. The grounds include gardens, swimming pools and a tennis court, while the property’s dining and food experiences connect a stay to the Emilian culinary tradition. It is a rural base, rather than a city-centre address.
Reddit excerpts · separate from Rex’s editorial judgment
A guest who stayed in the pool house found it comfortable and well equipped, and considered the food a strong reason to visit. A diner who did not stay also praised the property’s appearance and found the pool and garden appealing.
Discussion is limited; these accounts offer a glimpse rather than a broad verdict.
“I stayed at the pool house with another couple and thought it was excellent. Well worth 3 nights. Obviously you are there for the food, which is excellent. The pool house is comfortable, well equipped and very nice.”
“I ate there but didn’t stay. It’s gorgeous and perfect and the pool/garden is super cute.”
La Villa, Italy
A historic castle hotel perched in the Dolomites, blending medieval architecture with refined Alpine luxury. Its commanding position above the Val Badia valley offers an unparalleled sense of timeless elegance and exclusivity.
Moltrasio, Italy
Passalacqua occupies an 18th-century villa estate directly above Lake Como in Moltrasio, with 24 accommodations divided among the main Villa, the Palazz and the lakeside Casa al Lago. The restored property is intimate rather than sprawling, with seven acres of terraced gardens running down to a private jetty and a setting that stays tied to the old village just beyond the gates. It opened as a hotel in June 2022 after a three-year restoration by the De Santis family.
San Vigilio di Marebbe, Italy
A luxurious alpine retreat nestled in the heart of the Dolomites, offering refined mountain hospitality with contemporary design and authentic local charm. The hotel combines wellness, gastronomy, and outdoor adventure in one of Europe's most spectacular mountain landscapes.
Lisciano Niccone, Italy
Hotel Castello di Reschio occupies a meticulously restored castle dating to 1050, within the Reschio estate’s wooded Umbrian countryside. Its 36 accommodation units include rooms and suites inside the castle and, just beyond its ramparts, suites in the former vestry. The experience is shaped by the historic setting and estate-scale pursuits: the hotel has a pool and Bathhouse, while dining ranges from the castle restaurant to Alle Scuderie elsewhere on the estate. It suits travelers who want a rural stay with the castle itself at its center.
Torrita di Siena, Italy
Lupaia is a 12-room independent boutique hotel created from five restored farmhouse buildings dating back to 1622, set on a hilltop at Località Lupaia 74 between Montepulciano and Pienza in the Val d’Orcia/Crete Senesi landscape. It suits travelers who want rural Tuscany to feel genuinely rural rather than resort-like: the approach is via an approximately 3 km gravel track through vineyards and woodland, the views stretch across hills toward Montepulciano and Montefollonico, and the restored estate keeps original beams, stone hearths and private outdoor spaces rather than a uniform hotel layout. Two especially concrete reasons to choose it are the small scale and the food focus: there are only 12 rooms and suites, and dinner centers on a daily changing four-course menu from the open kitchen, with breakfast, lunch and a wine-and-cocktail bar also on site. The tradeoff is that this is better for guests happy with a secluded, car-friendly country base than for travelers wanting paved walkability or winter stays, since the hotel says it is closed from early December to mid-March and recommends arriving by car.
Fiesole, Italy
Villa San Michele occupies a former 15th-century Franciscan monastery high in Fiesole, above Florence and the Arno Valley. Its 39 rooms and suites sit within the historic building and its grounds, with terraced gardens opening toward the city. The appeal is the contrast between a hillside setting and access to Florence: the hotel lists a complimentary shuttle to the city centre, while the villa itself offers a quieter base among historic architecture, gardens and views.
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