Private Milan tour and make the most out your time in Italy

Milan is often an underestimated destination of the average traveller. When visiting Italy people too often plan only for Venice, Florence and Rome. Surely Milan is an important transport hub with its 2 airports like Malpensa and Linate but there is more even if the city has an unappealing industrial look.  Milan is the fashion horsepower of Italy,  the milanese night life is hectic and the city is an innovative gastronomic centre. With no doubt it is Italy’s trendiest city and will not fail to impress you. Here below we will discover how to make the most of out of your time in the northern capital of Italy. A private Milan tour will help to discover all the beauty and hidden gems of the city.

Duomo di Milano
The Duomo di Milano is certainly the most famous landmark in the City – Image source.

Private Milan tour, food wine tasting.

If you are looking for some day trips idea from Milan read on. If you are interested in sparkling wines and stunning scenery you should consider taking a tour of a boutique winery in the picturesque wine region of Franciacorta. With an incredible lake panorama the day will not fail to impress if you are organising a romantic outing. Many of the Franciacorta winery are in the southern part of lake Iseo, the guided visits will introduce you to the pleasures of Italian “champenoise method” wines. The wine markers here exploit the moraine soil composition and they produce wines that have been set to compete with important champagne houses in France.

Festival del Franciacorta 2009, Milano
Be ready for some serious bubbles with the Franciacorta wines – image source

But if do not have time for a day tour from Milan do not despair, Italian says “Milano da Bere” literally you can drink the city of Milano. With a Milan wine tasting you could discover the tradition of aperitivo. The Milanese people before going to dinner meet in trendy bars and have a mini meal composed often by generous buffets and a cocktail or a glass of wine, this might ideal as a light dinner before heading to the la scala opera house. For an innovative gastronomic lunch you could try Cracco Pek. The Chef has won 2 Michelin stars  for its outstanding cooking style. For a fabulously fashionable dinner you should visit the Navigli quarter. An area that makes Milan with no doubt Italy’s trendiest city. Navigli with its bohemian feeling has many small and interesting restaurants where you can sample local specialities. Along the canals you can also find many second hand clothes and furniture shops, which are ideal for your last minute shopping.

Milan sightseeing tours

An other interesting idea for a private Milan tour is to visit the famous la Scala opera house, the management organises daily tour of the beautiful building with guided visits in English or other languages. La Scala opera house is one of the world’ most famous theatres and it should not missed for any reason during your visit in Italy. The building is  adjacent to Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II which is a shopping gallery where many famous milanese brands can be found. La scala opera house also offers an extensive operatic season featuring all Italian and many foreign composers, in the list we find Giacomo Puccini, Giuseppe Verdi and Richard Wagner.  La scala Opera house has a museum that it is open most days and for only 6 euros you can explore the history of the theatre, of course the management also organises guided tours on demand that need to be booked in before hand.

If you take a private Milan tour you might also consider to take an intriguing walking tour around the Sforzesco castle which is known as one of the most historical construction in the city. Also known as the Sforza castle, it was the home of the duke of Milan and one of the largest citadels in Europe. At presents hosts many art collections and exhibitions, making it an interesting destination for the art lover.

Your stay will not be completed without a visit to the arty Brera quarter. In the area you will find the Milano Brera museum also known as the Pinacoteca di Brera is one of the most complete and astonishing art collections in Europe with classic and modern paintings from several periods and styles. If you set up a private Milan tour we also recommend to save some time and reserve your Leonardo last supper tickets which must be booked well in advance. The fresco painting needs no introduction and it represent  the renaissance period at its pinnacle.

Private Milan tour of shopping outlets.

Did you know that Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II was the first shopping mall in Italy? Milan is the Italian power house for brands and it makes a superb shopping experience for the discerning traveller. Milan tradition of labels is outstanding. Trussardi fashion Empire was born in this city. But the list can be rather long with names like Prada, Valentino, Versace, Krizia, Moschino, Docle and Gabbana, Luxottica. Taking a private fashion tour of Milan Italy can be a unique experience where you could learn the history of Italian labels and go home with many bargains.

Milan Italy is an outstanding place.

If you are heading for  Milan sightseeing tours, a wine tasting, or a shopping tour, the city is the perfect destination for all of this. Let us organise an intriguing walking tour of the city centre, a guided visit to the Duomo di Milano, plus a dinner at the Navigli di Milano, you will not be disappointed.

The world renowned La Scala opera house in Milan, Italy.

The world renowned La Scala opera house in Milan, Italy. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

A culinary tour of Naples and the Amalfi coast

Food tour in Naples & the Amalfi Coast

There’s no need to beat about the bush. The gastronomic specialties of Naples and the Amalfi Coast are many, but pizza is the most famous of all. Because you can eat Neapolitan pizza only in Naples, despite the millions of attempts to replicate it throughout the world. You can eat good pizza also in London, Shanghai, New York or Malindi, but only in Naples pizza has the unique and unmistakable “Neapolitan Pizza” taste.

 

The secret of Neapolitan Pizza

Pizza in Napoli
Eat pizza in Naples

Just like all the secrets, even the secret of Neapolitan Pizza cannot be revealed. If you ask a Neapolitan pizza maker, he will always pretend he’s telling you the truth. First of all, he will say that it’s because they use effervescent mineral water, rich in minerals and low in calcium. Then he will acclaim the type of yeast, the crushed tomatoes (not tomato sauce,) but especially his ability to knead the dough with his hands. So, in the end, you will feel like you still know very little, because so many secrets end up being … no secret at all.

Pizza is good everywhere in Naples, but if you want to enjoy the most classic ‘Margherita’ (tomatoes and mozzarella) or ‘Marinara’ (with garlic, oregano, and no mozzarella cheese,) then you should go to “Da Michele,” in Via Cesare Sersale. If you want to try a special pizza instead, with many different ingredients, there’s Starita near the National Archaeological Museum of Naples, Via Materdei: here pizza is like a work of Baroque art.

 

Neapolitan Gastronomic Specialties. Pasta Dishes

Neapolitan cuisine is among the most diverse in all of Italy, also because over the centuries it has been enriched by the influences of past dominations: Greek, Arab, Norman and French. However, the distinguishing feature of Neapolitan cuisine is that it’s always been very plain. Pasta dishes, with Spaghetti with fresh tomato sauce or Vermicelli with clams being the most popular, are the quintessence of simplicity. If you wish to enjoy more elaborate dishes, you can order Maccheroni with beef ragù or Lasagna, made with flat sheets of pasta layered with ragù and béchamel sauce, and then baked in the oven.

 

Fish and Meat Main Dishes

Seafood restaurants in Naples are as many as pizzerias. Taste a ‘Calamarata’ – pasta with squid rings and sauce – or Spaghetti with Anchovies, to enjoy the real Neapolitan tradition. Main courses range from grilled or fried fish, to ‘Paranza,’ a mix of fried small fish, such as cod, hake, red mullet, and soles. Recommended seafood restaurants include: “Da Salvatore” in Via Mergellina or “Mimì Alla Ferrovia” in Via Alfonso D’Aragona.

The most typical meat dishes of Neapolitan cuisine are prepared with goat and lamb meat. However, don’t miss out on a dish of ‘purpette napulitane’ (beef meatballs with tomato sauce), ‘cerviellatine and friarielli’ (pork with bitter broccoli), ‘spezzatiello’ (stewed beef) and ‘vrasciole a raù’ (pork chops in ragù sauce). You will enjoy excellent meat dishes at “Ristorante Bracconiere” in Via Falanga or at “Zio Jack Griglieria” in Via Palepoli.

 

Neapolitan Desserts

It’s quite difficult not to feel too full after a typical Neapolitan meal, but if you can, leave some room for dessert. The famous ‘Pastiera Napoletana’ is one of the most traditional Neapolitan desserts: this is a Shortcrust pastry filled with ricotta cheese, boiled wheat, eggs and candied fruit. We can’t fail to mention ‘Zeppole’, fried or baked, made of flour, sugar, eggs, butter and olive oil. Also ‘Struffoli’ are very tasty: dough balls (flour, eggs, lard, sugar and anise liqueur) fried in oil and drenched in warm honey, then decorated with pieces of cedar and candied fruit. To round off, the legendary ‘babà’ dripping in sweet rum, liqueurs or Limoncello. Some of the best pastry shops in Naples include the historic “Scaturchio” in Piazza San Domenico and “Bellavia” with shops in Via Vanvitelli and Via Pigna.

 

From Naples to the Sorrentine Peninsula, to the Amalfi Coast

The Sorrentine Peninsula shores a few kilometers up the southern end of Naples. You can drive from Naples to Sorrento following the A3 motorway and then taking the exit of Castellammare di Stabia; or, you can take a Circumvesuviana train from Naples Garibaldi Central Station; or one of the many hydrofoils and ferries departing from the port of Naples. Just south of the Sorrentine Peninsula, on the stretch of coast between Positano and Vietri sul Mare, lies the beautiful Amalfi Coast. Many buses connect Sorrento to all the towns of the Amalfi Coast: Positano, Praiano, Furore, Amalfi, Ravello, Maiori, Cetara and Vietri sul Mare.

 

Typical Products of the Sorrentine Peninsula

The traditional cuisine of Sorrento and the Amalfi Coast is very diverse. The people who have lived there over the centuries, have benefited from the fruits of the sea and land, as well as the crops and livestock of the Lattari Mountains. Typical products of these areas include: Mozzarella di Agerola, Fior di Latte (whole cow’s milk cheese), Provolone del Monaco, extra virgin olive oil, Limoncello, Sorrento tomatoes and walnuts.

 

Typical dishes of the Sorrento Peninsula and the Amalfi Coast

At the many restaurants of Sorrento, Amalfi or Positano, you can taste all the dishes of Neapolitan cuisine. What is more, traditional cuisine in the Peninsula has also developed independently, with peculiar local dishes such as Gnocchi alla Sorrentina, with fresh tomatoes, mozzarella and basil; Spaghetti with zucchini or with walnuts, and of course the many pasta dishes with fish and seafood in general.

Among the main courses, fish dishes of course dominate the scene. Besides the classic ‘Paranza’, the aforementioned fried mix of small fish, some other specialties include: cuttlefish stuffed with bread crumbs, mozzarella cheese, raisins, parsley and hot pepper; squid stuffed with tomatoes, parsley and olives; the legendary fish soup with all the best the sea can offer; octopuses cooked in their juice with tomato sauce.

To end with, here are some of the best typical dishes of the Amalfi Coast: ‘Parmigiana di Melanzane’ in Positano; ‘Scialatielli’ – pasta with chopped parsley, pepper, parmesan cheese, tomato sauce and clams – in Amalfi; ‘Sarchiapone’ – pumpkin cylinders stuffed with ground beef and cheese – in Atrani; goat meat cooked in several ways in Tramonti; baked rabbit in lemon leaves in Conca dei Marini; spleen stuffed with parsley, mint and hot pepper, or fried beef offal in Vietri sul Mare.


A lunch or dinner in the Amalfi Coast always ends with a bottle of Limoncello, the typical local liqueur. Limoncello is a sweet liqueur produced by maceration in alcohol of lemon peel. According to tradition, the original Limoncello is produced only using ‘femminiello’ lemons, Sorrento lemons or Amalfi Sfusato lemons.

Emilia Delizia supper club in London.

Emilia Delizia supper club in London – Secret dining experience only for discerning connoisseurs of Emilia Romagna’s food.

A supper club is more than just eating out. It is a possibility to try new foods that you would not normally find in restaurant as they have to cater for main stream customers. Emilia Delizia wanted to re-propose its culinary experience in London. Those who have came all the way to Parma and Bologna know what the food there is like, and Emilia Delizia wants also to introduce these delicacies to those who cannot came to Italy to sample our special foods.

Emilia Delizia supper club
Emilia Delizia guerilla dining

The secret dinner Party.

At a secret location Emilia Delizia propose a menu composed by the main dishes that make Emilia famous. In our list you will find fresh egg pasta like tagliatelle al ragu’, tortelli, tortellini, and of course a second course composed of our fragrant bread like tigelle and gnocco fritto. There will be an ample selection of our cured meats from Parma such as Parma ham, culatello, salame di Felino, mortadella from Bologna and so on.

Emilia Delizia experience – whole Parma ham and whole wheel of Parmesan for your party.

Who wants to impress their guest with this sumptuous dining experience can hire us, we can provide a whole Parma ham freshly sent from Italy from one of our carefully selected prosciutto makers in Italy. And if this was not enough we can supply with a whole parmesan cheese wheel. The experience is accompanied with our famous breads and focaccia. As for the wine we only serve the finest organic lambrusco carefully chosen from our best producers in Modena.

fire stamp on cheese
Whole Parmesan wheel for your Party

Whole or half wheel of Parmesan cheese for your party.

If you are planning something special Emilia Delizia can supply your party with a whole or half parmesan cheese wheel that will be opened in front of your guests. We will provide our best selection of organic artisan Parmigiano Reggiano ages a minimum of 28 months.

Whole Parma ham, machine or hand sliced.

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One of our highlights is to have a whole Parma ham opened and sliced for your guests. There is nothing like freshly cut prosciutto di Parma served directly to your party. The hams are best machine sliced to obtain wafer thin slices which will melt in your mouth. The hams can be also cut by hand, for this purpose we will select a vintage of over 24 months from our carefully selected producer for a better performance.

 Gnocco Fritto and Tigelle

gnocco fritto in London
Gnocco Fritto with Parma ham for your party

At the Emilia Delizia experience party we serve gnocco fritto which is a fried dough that it is especially good when eaten together with salumi.

Emilia Delizia supper club in London
Supper club in London

 

Secret dining experience in London
Emilia Delizia supper club in London
Secret supper club in London
Emilia Romagna food experience in London

 

Gourmet food tour from Florence

Emilia Delizia famous food tour can be taken from Florence, below you will find a guide about departing from Florence and participate at the 3 gourmet food tour.

gourmet food tour from Florence
Cheese food tour from Firenze

While Tuscany produces wonderful wines, cheese and hams, a lot of people are attracted by Bologna, Modena and Parma because of the Parmesan cheese, balsamic vinegar, Parma ham and Lambrusco wines. In this brief guide we explain how to tour the 3 foods with us while your made your base in Florence.

Timing of production of the Parmesan cheese.

Because of its nature the cheese is only made once a day in the morning, therefore participants need to get to the dairy early enough. Roughly we will depart from Bologna at 7.15/7.30 and from Modena at 8.20 am. Of course we can organise a tour for a later time however you might need to book a private tour and the cost might considerably higher for small parties.

How to get to Bologna or Modena by car.

If you are coming to Bologna or Modena by car, you can easily take the autostrada that connects Firenze to Bologna. Since you are driving your won vehicle, our guide will meet you directly at the cheese dair. Please plan ahead and keep in mind that to reach Modena it will take you 2 hours. Plan for traffic and toilet breaks. A GPS is a fundamental tool for self drive tours as our locations are mostly in the country side. Emilia Delizia does not take responsibility for not being able to locate the meeting point on time.

How to get to Bologna or Modena by train.

From Florence Bologna is served by frequent high speed trains at any time of the day till late at night. For more information about the train time table you can consult this page.
However in the morning the only option would be the Freccia Rossa 9500 that arrives in Bologna at 7.37. Rather than attempting this mad dash on the same morning, we always suggest to take a late train the evening before (even after a nice dinner in Florence) and stay at one of the the high quality hotels right in front of Bologna station. Namely the La UNA HOTEL, STAR EXCELSIOR, and MERCURE HOTEL. The following morning you will be ready to go to the Parmesan tour FRESH AND RELAXED.

frecciarossa

Organising a private food tour from Florence.

A private tour is the perfect solution if you want a customised tour four family, friends or company activity. You can decide the timing, and other details of the day that suit the most. We can organise a car or minibus that comes to your hotel directly in Florence. The departure time in this case it is around 6.30 and the return time is around 5 pm. The tour from Florence can be substantially more expensive than starting from Bologna, however it would be recommended for larger groups as the cost of the transport can be shared between the participants.

ageing Parmesan cheese
Parmesan cheese tour from Florence

Alternative tours from Florence.

If you have other interest you can also plan to organise a fashion outlet tour from Florence, you can drive a Ferrari or you can to to the sea in Cinque Terre.

 

 

Pasta Making classes in London – EmiliaDelizia.com

Emilia Delizia comes to London to offer pasta making classes for for the discerning culinary amateur and professional who want to learn the art of pasta making.

Starting from just flour and eggs you will be learning how to make one of the most iconic Italian food ever invented. Fresh egg pasta is only the tip of the iceberg of a large variety of dishes that will never stop to surprise you and tickle your fantasy. Pasta can be turned in tagliatelle, tortelli, tortellini, tortelloni, tagliolini, ravioli, aniolotti and the list goes on.

Emilia Delizia culinary experience in London.

learn how to make pasta in London
Egg pasta making classes in London

The class will begin with the most simple ingredients: flour and eggs. From here the participants will learn about the quality of the ingredients, how to recognise and buy them. The gourmet food instructor will teach about amalgamating the ingredients in order to obtain a perfectly springy dough that it is elastic and not sticky.

Hands-on gourmet classes at our culinary school.

Learn how to make fresh egg pasta
pasta making lessons in London

Pasta making is an art and you will learn how to transform raw material into dishes that will amaze your guests. Emilia Delizia culinary experiences in London are full hands-on, that means that each gourmet food student will participate actively to the pasta making. Each one will make his or her own pasta dough and learn how to get it to the right consistency. So be ready to put your hands into the flour and do not forget to bring your own apron.

Make pasta by rolling pin or by hand cranked machine.

pasta making in London
learn how to make pasta

The grandma’ style dictates that the sheet of pasta is only made by using a wooden rolling pin. Emilia Delizia offers both options to the culinary apprentice  in fact you can choose to follow the tradition (recommended for more expert students) or we can be more modern and learn how to use the Imperia style hand cranked machine. Pasta made by machine is more convenient as insure more consistency.

Tagliatelle is just the beginning.

London pasta making classes
learn how to make tagliatelle by hand

Emilia Delizia pasta making classes in London are one-off culinary experiences that will also include a light lunch. The students will first learn how to make tagliatelle, tortelli and tortellini then the group will sit around the table and enjoy the what they produced along with other traditional dishes from Emilia Romagna such as Parmesan cheese, Parma ham, Balsamic vinegar.

How to book the pasta making classes.

The session must be booked and agreed in advance.

What to bring at the session.

Just your favorite apron.

Where the lessons are held.

Lessons can be held at your kitchen, at one of our locations in central London.

Balsamic vinegar tour in Modena – EmiliaDelizia.com

Modena and the traditional balsamic vinegar produced here are truly Italian gems of uniqueness.

 

Romanesque cathedral
Cathedral of Modena

The Duomo di Modena is part of the Unesco world’s heritage and it is something really markable that you should not miss. It is almost 1000 years old and build only from scrap marbled derived from ancient Roman villas. The Duomo has been built according the Romanesque style by the masters of Campione D’Italia. The structure celebrates Modena’s patron and protector San Geminiano.

extra old balsamic vinegar
100 ml bottle of balsamic vinegar of Modena

Hidden in the family’s  home attics there is another treasure: Traditional Balsamic vinegar of Modena. Only made by the Modenese families in small batches and aged up to 25 years, it is a remarkable pearl in the Italian gastronomic tradition. It requires a set of barrels made of noble woods, Lambrusco grape juice and a lot of patience. Every year the producers have to painstakingly refill the barrels since some of the liquid is lost due to natural evaporation during the hot summers. However this allows to blend the flavours of the woods into the final product.

 

tasting of balsamic vinegar
trying the balsamic vinegar

The traditional balsamic vinegar of Modena has basically nothing to do with lower quality vinegar even when marketed as MODENA’S. During the tasting we will discover how to distinguish the black nectar from its numerous imitations. The tasting is aimed to develop an appreciation for the producer and learn how to match it with foods. Even though it is seen by many as an expensive and eccentric product it can be used on everyday’s foods. If used correctly a bottle will last for long time.

balsamic vinegar
The balsamic vinegar barrels

During Emilia Delizia’s Traditional Balsamic Vinegar tour we will learn how the fractional ageing works and each detail of the production will be explained to our guests. For those wishing to take home some of the product is now possible to purchase the 100 ml bottles directly from the producer at discounted prices. Some producers are also happy to send their products directly to your home and almost all accept all major credit cards.

Ghirlandina
The Ghirlandina tower of Modena

Even though Modena is small, it is a true concentration of history, architecture and food delicacies. If you want to truly sample the city we recommend to spend at least one night and a full day. Modena is also famous for Parmesan cheese, pasta like tortellini, Zampone and cotechino and there is an endless array of good restaurants in the city centre. Ranging from cheap eat to Bottura’s Osteria Francescana, Modena is set to please everyone in terms of food.

Canza Enzo Ferrari
Ferrari museum in central Modena

Modena is also the capital of motor sport, and super cars. The newly open Enzo Ferrari museums is an interesting hot spot for those fanatic about the Ferrari cars. The modern building offers themed and rotating car collections that express the soul Modena. It is also possible to catch a shuttle bus and visit the Maranello Ferrari museum without the need of hiring a car.

httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2knZXPzfHdU

Parmigiano Reggiano Factory Tour

Parmigiano Reggiano (Parmesan) guided visit to a cheese day.

 

Emilia Delizia offers detailed Parmigiano Reggiano cheese tours in Modena, Parma and Reggio Emilia. Our tour will begin early in the morning in order to catch as much as possible. Below we tried to reproduce our tour in pictures to give a better idea to people about what they will see when at the Parmesan dairy.

Milk for parmesan cheese
1000 kg of milk for the parmigiano reggiano cheese production

At the arrival at the dairy we we will see the raw milk sitting in the vats. These large containers “cauldrons” contains 1000 kg of full fat and half milk mixed together. The compound is then acidified and the rennet is added. At this point the milk will turn into a yoghurt like substance.

cheese just made
2 wheels of parmesan cheese

These are the 2 twins, one is a boy and the other is a girl. Basically these are the curds of the cheese that have  been cut and left to rest. From 1000 kilos of milk we obtain 2 45 kilos wheels. Some of the weight is lost during the ageing, and therefore the final product weights approximately 37 kg.

Parmesan cheese just made
The cheese will spend a day in the Teflon mould

The unformed cheese goes into the Teflon mould for one day and one night. The cheese master carefully add a weight on top of the cheese. In order to squeeze our all the liquid the moulds are then turned every couple of hours. In the evening the cheese cloth is removed and the matrix carrying the naming Parmigiano Reggiano is inserted in the mould. Telon is a new material that has replaced the hand made wooden moulds that were originally crafted by hand.   httpv://youtu.be/z6M7-THZOeM In the video you can clearly see how the cheese is moved from the vat to the moulds. Our guests will be able to see the full production just meters away form the cheese being made.

metal moulds for the cheese
the parmesan cheese is the metal mould

The cheese goes into the metal mould for another day. These moulds have the shape of the wheel which will not required further manipulation such as the trimming of the edges.  The cheese always rest on wooden shelves which allow breathing and the correct ageing.

cheese guided tour
Guided tour to a Parmesan cheese dairy

The wheels then go to a brine bath and stay here for 3 weeks. This is an important step to make hard cheese in fact the high salinity of the water will allow residual moisture to exit thanks to natural osmosis. It is important to keep in mind that Parmesan cheese does not contain any preservative or anti fermentative, therefore it is essential to have the right amount of moisture in the wheels.

ageing Parmesan cheese
visit to the Parmigiano Reggiano maturation cellars

The last part of the visit will be spend in the ageing cellars. Here is the Parmigiano Reggiano is stocked on the traditional shelves for a minima of 12 months. During the visit we will learn how to recognise the real Parmesan cheese from imitation and we will discover the nutritional values of the product.

Three charming stays in Bologna that travellers are missing.

Bologna is a town that needs time to be discovered, maybe at the beginning it might seem unappealing to the untrained eye but if you let the Old Lady to open up you are heading for surprises. In this article we put together 3 romantic and charming stays in Bologna as we think these places will make a difference in your travel to Italy.

Antica Residenza D’Azeglio.

This romantic b&b is situated on the corner of Via D’Azeglio and Via Solferino in the southern part of the town. The lodging is just stone throw from Piazza Maggiore, the 2 towers of Bologna and the archiginnasio which part of the oldest university in western Europe . The b&b is situated on the second floor of a truly historical palace with Rococo furniture to come with. Of course it does not lack of any modern comforts and the prices always include a fantastic breakfast. One of our favourite features are the balconies facing the internal garden  The owners are also famous for their hospitality, welcoming guests as they were part of the family.

The lovely internal gardens of Antica residenza d'azelio
The lovely internal gardens of Antica residenza d’azelio

 Il convento dei fiori di seta.

The name of this charming and lovely b&b in English translates as the Silk flowers nunnery.   The place is pretty amazing combining the old with the modern as it is a restoration of a church originally build in 1400 and brought back to its beauty by the current owners who transformed the place into one of the most beautiful places where to stay in Italy. The nunnery has in total 10 rooms which are all different and furnished in a modern and minimal style. They are situated in the area of Santo Stefano towards the end of Via Castiglione. As an added bonus it is very close to the Giardini Margherita, the Bologna public botanical garden.

The Entrance of the nunnery with the vaulted fresco cieling.
The Entrance of the nunnery with the vaulted fresco ceiling.

Il Castello di Galeazza.

It is situated in the town of Galeazza about 40 minutes from central Bologna, it can easily reached by car and public transport, for info about getting there please check this page.

Castello di Galezza is a reading retreat so it is a bit different from your usual stay. Tucked away in the country-side offers travellers a unique stay in a original Italian castle. The library is stocked with over 4000 titles for those willing to spend time reading and relaxing. Of course you can just come here to enjoy the castle and the atmosphere without necessary being a fond reader, the place is for everyone. At the castle events are organised throughout the year including Italian culture classes and cookery lessons for those wanting to know more about Bologna style cuisine

The library at castello di Galeazza
The library at castello di Galeazza

 

 

 

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