Vidovina: Forest Farmhouse with Pool

Vidovina lies hidden away on a forest hilltop between Bologna, Ravenna and Florence. It's a century-old farmhouse that was renovated to host retreats and group vacations. Its six bedrooms, five bathrooms, spacious living room, well-equiped kitchen, big studio and a huge garden with a 50m2 pool make for a perfect place to retreat with a group of up to 22 people. Expect no fancy decorations or marble bathrooms: it's a farmhouse. The luxury lies in the abundance of privacy and space. And a night sky you rarely see. Note there's no central heating. For colder days (rare between May and September), we have a wood hearth in the living room and extra blankets for the beds. 

Arriving is easiest by car. Upon entering Casola Valsenio the first time, host Cor will meet you at the restaurant 'Locanda Il Cardello' to guide you to the house. The last bit of road road is partly unpaved and can be challenging the first time. The trick is to shift to gear 1, and go a slow and steady 20 km/hr. In case you don't have a car, there’s a local taxi service you can contact (+39 335 678 3599). Public transport is sparse.

The region lies in the triangle between the cultural powerhouses of Bologna, Ravenna and Florence, which can be visitied during daytrips. More nearby you'll find Palazzuolo, Imola, Faenza, Forli and Brisighella, beautiful towns with lots of history and natural beauty. Casola Valsenio itself is a lovely farmer's village that doesn't see many tourists. Main sites in the village are the Cardello-house at the park entrance, the nearby Valsenio Church, Monte Battaglia tower and the cliff overlooking the Senio River.

Food is very good here, even for Italian standards. There's great local cuisine at restarants Il Cardello Locanda and Mevigo, both of which are walkable from the house. There's good pizza at Il Incontro and several other places nearby. Good coffee you get at Bar Central, where cappuccino after 11 is frowned upon, but wine before 9 is fine... There's a great fruit & vegetable shop called Lona Bona in the centre, with across the street a good butcher. The local supermarket is open 7 days a week and Casola's outdoor market is Tuesday and Friday mornings. 

Activities such as hiking, mountain biking, horseback riding, cave touring and pasta making can be organized pretty easily. You can arrange them yourself, but as not all local enterprises publish online, it may be handier to ask Andrea (+39 328 473 3310) to help you out. She charges a very reasonable fee for her time.

Services like catering, transportation and yoga classes can be arranged. Local chef Andrea (+39 328 473 3310) can prepare fresh, healthy Italian food and she can even do groceries for you. There’s a local taxi service you can contact (+39 335 678 3599) that has a 9-seater van. To get yoga classes at Vidovina or other locations, please contact Gabriela (+39 347 362 2772). We are not event planners, but we're happy to help out where we can.