Even in Italy, the weather in winter is not always wonderful. Nevertheless, we spent New Year's Eve here this year and also had a few sunny days on which we could even be outside without a jacket. On the way back north, however, the rain had a firm grip on us. Driving was very exhausting. So all the better that a stopover was planned halfway. My son and I wanted to spend the night in a B&B near Bologna. The narrow street with an awful lot of oncoming traffic and many curves was uncomfortable to drive, but the arrival in the Tenuta completely made up for it. The large, yellow-lighted gate directly on the street swung open silently after the bell rang. Behind it, there are almost cinematic illuminated paths that gently curve uphill. Like a place out of this world.

A stopover in another world

The very real Anna Likhaceva with her beautiful strawberry blonde hair was waiting for us upstairs and took us to the cozy little house Casa di Otello. In earlier times the manager of the Ensuring Leak-proof (which means something like estate) lived with his family. Old floors, crooked old walls and narrow wooden doors. A wrought-iron railing that my 8-year-old immediately discovered as a climbing frame. Everything still looks like it did back then. The room smells wonderfully of dried lavender and the bed is neither too soft nor too hard and has wonderfully thick blankets. In the morning we lie there with relish. The view of the pine trees in front of the window is also too beautiful.

After breakfast, Anna proudly shows us around the area. She tells me about the tenuta's past. From Otello, the loyal administrator, who held the position here during the war and was only able to save himself from the murdering henchmen by jumping into the dung pit. At that time the Tenuta still belonged to other owners.

A walk to the green room

We stroll a bit through the forest. It smells of conifers and it's nice and sunny again, so that even a few bees have flown out to nibble on the old honeycomb boxes. The vegetable garden is hidden behind a high hedge. Now in January, the properly grown beds lie fallow. But otherwise strawberries, potatoes and of course the tomatoes and courgettes, which are essential for Italy, grow here. This secret green room has its own charm and is also used as a function room for summer aperitivo evenings.

Just like the really breathtakingly developed stable with barn in which Anna now lives. After her studies she followed in her father's footsteps and now deals in antiques like him. The family's passion for antique objects is reflected in the Tenuta. There is almost nothing modern in the entire house (except maybe a kettle and the toaster). But there is just as little to see junk. To be honest, my mouth dropped open. I've never seen anything like it. An overwhelming wealth of extraordinarily beautiful and well-preserved equipment, furniture, furnishings, ...

No wonder that photo shoots, film shoots, art events and other events take place here on a regular basis. A water ballet was even offered at a top-class event. Anna shows me a few film clips from a current organic advertisement that I already know from Italian television. Now I realize: that's in the orangery. Where we were sitting before! Very idyllic.

Social commitment and hospitality

With the income from renting out the rooms, Anna and her partner support social projects for young people who need help. Some of them also have the opportunity to gain work experience at Tenuta. This is how we got to know the young Ibrahim from Gambia, who is now busy with wood making together with Giovanni from Romania.

The B&B, on the other hand, is actually more of a gimmick by Anna. She loves to welcome guests, she tells me. And that's why she and her mother Roberta are currently busy setting up additional guest rooms in the manor house. Like the rooms in the farmhouse, they should match the style of the house. Accordingly, a luxurious bed and breakfast is planned in the villa. But I'm very curious to see what it will look like. I will definitely see that.

But there are still many kilometers to go before we get home. Hardly out of the gate, I realize that I've forgotten a little something. I ring the bell and Giovanni, who lives in the gatehouse, opens for me. I want to walk up quickly and fetch the charging cable that is still in the nostalgic socket next to the bed. But Giovanni says: Jump up and hold on tight! And drives me up and down with the quad. A rapid end to this little stopover somewhere in the middle of Italy.

You can find more information about Tenuta Montemaggiore at Good travel