A Storybook Escape in the Italian Countryside

Words Vidula KotianDate 09 August 2024

Perhaps it’s the charm of the Provençal-style hand-painted walls that captivates you, or maybe it’s the eclectic collection of 18th- and 19th-century Thai and French furniture dotted around the house. One thing is certain—the Elizabeth Country House, our newest Italian hotel nestled in the medieval village of Minerbio just outside Bologna, will enchant you with its rich tapestry of stories.

The story begins with Mario Bandiera, founder of the iconic 1980s fashion brand Les Copains, who acquired a 1900s house. Alongside his wife Stefania, the creative force behind the brand, they infused the house with distinctive flair. Inspired by a trip to Provence, they enlisted French painters to spend ten months decorating their home’s walls, a detail decorator Carmen Avilia has meticulously restored for the hotel. Echoes of Mario’s eclectic life continue to enhance the hotel’s charm. An Olympic-size pool reflects his daily swimming ritual, while Victorian-era furniture he collected on his travels charms in the most unexpected of places, particularly in the bathrooms.

Designer Fabrizio Cocchi’s “love for beauty and scenography” is evident in his transformation of a family home into a tasteful hotel, set amidst beautifully landscaped gardens that blend ancient trees with native Italian flora. Today, these verdant surrounds form the heart of this serene retreat, offering an escape from the world where mindfulness, cooking, and pottery classes, or simply a moment of true repose in nature, are all within reach.