Relais Roncolo 1888

Relais Roncolo 1888 occupies a 130-hectare estate in the Terre di Canossa hills of Emilia-Romagna, less than an hour from Bologna and two from Milan. At its centre stands Villa Manodori, a seventeenth-century villa whose original frescos and hand-painted wallpapers have survived intact, surrounded by a cluster of restored historic outbuildings that together form a private hamlet of seventeen rooms and suites. The rooms within the villa carry the quiet grandeur of their original interiors, while those in Le Dimore, the converted farm buildings, offer beamed ceilings and natural materials drawn from the surrounding landscape. Every room is individual in character.

The estate’s restaurant, Ristorante Limonaia, occupies the historic greenhouse and extends onto a terrace overlooking the vineyards. The kitchen works closely with the estate’s organic garden and the wider territory, producing handmade pasta and seasonal dishes that reflect what the land is currently offering. The wine served here comes from the estate’s own vineyards under the Venturini Baldini label, which has been producing organic wines from native Italian grape varieties since the 1970s and is now among the more respected producers in the region. Cellar tastings with a guide are available for guests wishing to explore the range in depth.

Equally remarkable is the estate’s Acetaia di Canossa, a seventeenth-century vinegar cellar housing hundreds of wooden barrels producing Traditional Balsamic Vinegar of Reggio Emilia aged for up to twenty-five years. Certified organic since 1994 and a certified B Corporation since 2025, the estate operates largely on solar energy and maintains a plastic-free policy throughout. The surrounding area places guests within easy reach of Parma, Modena, Reggio Emilia, and the Motor Valley, with the Relais team able to arrange cooking classes, guided hikes, and producer visits.