Romantic Residence - Medieval Village Castello di Serravalle

The house has a separate entrance and is nestled in the village of Castello di Serravalle, amid the peace and quiet of the Bolognese Hills, about 20 minutes from the Valsamoggia highway exit.

Just a short walk from the apartment, you’ll find the Romanesque church, the bell tower, and the Ecomuseum of the Hills and Wine. In the same building as the apartment is a restaurant, the Trattoria del Borgo, open Wednesday through Sunday.

The house features a living room with a wood-burning stove, a kitchen equipped with hob burners, an oven, a refrigerator, a freezer, a sink, a kettle, and a Bialetti moka pot for making coffee.
The kitchen and living room are on the ground floor and share the same space; they are equipped with cooking utensils, pots and pans, and everything you need to prepare a meal.
Upon your arrival, you’ll find essentials such as natural mineral water, coffee, salt and pepper, and sugar.

The bedroom and bathroom are on the ground floor and are furnished with a king-size bed (170 cm by 190 cm), nightstands, lamps, a desk, an armchair, and a chest of drawers.

The bathroom is spacious and located next to the bedroom; a sliding door separates the two rooms. Inside the bathroom, there is a sink, a mirror, light fixtures, a spacious shower, a toilet, and a bidet.

Where is the house located?
Castello di Serravalle is a charming village on the border between the provinces of Bologna and Modena. Although its name refers to a fortress, the name actually refers to a single village. Here you’re sure to find the perfect place to relax, as well as a culinary stop featuring delicious Bolognese cuisine.
The village is completely walkable and can be explored on foot in less than an hour.

Start at the Ecomuseum of the Hills and Wine, where you’ll discover anecdotes and interesting facts not only about winemaking traditions but also about the village itself.
During your walk through Castello di Serravalle, you’ll see:
The Medieval Fortress, the Hill and Wine Ecomuseum, the Cassero, and the Little Church of San Pietro, all surrounded by ancient medieval palaces and the Baroque Church of Sant’Apollinare.

The Medieval Fortress
A fortress consisting of an imposing tower and large crenellated walls, through which you enter the village. The interior spaces are very spacious and can be viewed by visiting the Wine Ecomuseum, which is partially housed in the main halls.
The fortress also includes several vineyards, a vegetable garden, and water wells. On the top floor there is also a dovecote tower, where barn owls and small falcons still nest today.

The Hill and Wine Ecomuseum
The museum is entirely dedicated to the agricultural history of the village and, in particular, to the production of Bolognese wine. The main entrance is located near the Casa del Capitano, the residence of Jacopino da San Lorenzo in Collina, a 13th-century member of the Senate of Bologna. The museum is open only on Sundays and holidays, and admission is free.

The Cassero
A passageway built around 1300 to increase protection against external attacks. In the past, it included a drawbridge and a “pincer gate” system: if an enemy managed to enter, they were forced to walk through a very narrow passageway, where it was impossible to escape the arrows fired by the soldiers defending the village.

The Little Church of San Pietro
Located at the highest point of the village, the church houses some of the best-preserved works of art from the Bologna region, including a richly decorated altar and a Franchini organ dating from 1870. Looking at it from the outside, however, you’ll notice the unusual absence of a bell tower. In fact, the bell tower was never built, since the tower of the Casa del Capitano was already being used for that purpose.

The ancient medieval palaces
All the buildings in Castello di Serravalle are made of stone and date back to the Middle Ages. Most are still privately owned, but on special occasions, some are opened to the public. Among them, the most notable are undoubtedly Palazzo di Cuzzano and Palazzo Boccadiferro. It is said that Charlemagne stayed at the latter, while it is certain that the wedding of composer Gioacchino Rossini and Olimpia Pellissier was celebrated there in 1846.

The Baroque Church of Sant’Apollinare
A place of worship located slightly outside the historic centre. Its beauty lies precisely in its location, completely immersed in the countryside of the Colli Bolognesi. Inside, you’ll find 18th-century paintings and works attributed to the most renowned local artists.

The History of the Village of Castello di Serravalle
Although it is now part of the municipality of Valsamoggia, Castello di Serravalle was once an independent village.
Its history officially begins in 1227, the year in which its founding is documented. In reality, the area had already been inhabited for some time by Celtic, Ligurian, and Etruscan peoples. Among these were the Boii Celts, the same people who founded Bologna.

Throughout the Middle Ages, the village’s location—halfway between Modena and Bologna—proved to be extremely strategic for trade. Precisely for this reason, it was at the centre of several battles. The most famous was the Battle of Zeppolino on November 15, 1325, between the Ghibellines of Modena and the Guelphs of Bologna.

This clash is remembered as one of the bloodiest of the Middle Ages, with countless soldiers and knights deployed on both sides, of whom over two thousand were killed.
The 19th century, with Napoleon’s arrival in Italy, was instead marked by an expansion of the municipal territory, with the annexation of Tiola, Ponzano, and Zappolino.

Following the recent 2012 referendum, which mandated the merger of Castello di Serravalle, Bazzano, Crespellano, Monteveglio, and Savigno into the single municipality of Valsamoggia, the village has continued to maintain a strong identity.

In fact, the town’s historic centre still preserves stories and customs that are passed down daily to visiting tourists.