Casa Maria Luigia is an 18th-century country house at San Damaso in the Emilian countryside, about 15 minutes' drive from Modena. Massimo Bottura and Lara Gilmore bought it to extend the hospitality of Osteria Francescana, the restaurant they opened in Modena in 1995, which holds a three-MICHELIN-star rating. The couple have filled the house with their own collection of contemporary art, books, vinyl records, Italian cars and special-edition motorcycles. Every room is different, with walnut floors, handmade ceramic bathrooms and artworks chosen for each, and cottages sit in the gardens. An Emilian breakfast is included for all guests, as are the savoury and sweet treats of the house kitchen. In the evening, Francescana at Maria Luigia serves a nine-course menu of dishes once served at Osteria Francescana, at communal tables beside an open kitchen, while Jessica Rosval holds a one-MICHELIN-star rating at Al Gatto Verde, cooking over live embers with produce from the estate farm. In 2022 the house bought a neighbouring acetaia founded in 1969, with more than 1,200 barrels of balsamic vinegar, now open for tours and tastings. There are 25 rooms, and the house holds three MICHELIN Keys.
- Nearest airport
- Bologna Guglielmo Marconi (BLQ), 16 Miles / 26 Kilometres
- Rooms
- 25 rooms, including a penthouse and garden cottages
Insider tip Choose the non-refundable rate, the only one that lets you add the Francescana at Maria Luigia dinner; seats are limited and paid in advance.
Why I choose it Massimo Bottura's country house, with Francescana classics at communal tables and a starred table at Al Gatto Verde.