Agriturismo Ca' de' Magnani

Tucked into the mountains and not far from the highway, this is a lovely place with a warm, quiet atmosphere. The owner’s kindness and craftsmanship stood out, as did the thoughtfully prepared breakfast buffet. I’d like to come back next time I’m passing through.

The staff were excellent, and the set dinner was a good selection of local traditional dishes. You need to book that dinner by 4 p.m. on each day of your stay if you want it. The B&B makes a great base for exploring the Tuscany-Emilia-Romagna mountains, and there’s a good-sized pool for cooling off on long summer evenings. Rooms and beds are basic but clean, and breakfast was standard and good quality.

The kitchen service deserves special praise and would make the detour worthwhile on its own. My wife and I stopped for one night to break up a long trip from southern to northern Italy, and found an oasis of calm and hospitality. We enjoyed everything and had nothing to criticize. The small pool sits in a beautiful panoramic spot, the room blends rustic and modern nicely, and the shared areas are pleasant while keeping their rustic character. In midsummer, sleeping with the windows open in the silent forest while seeing distant highway traffic lights was quite an experience. One of the B&Bs we’ve enjoyed most in years of travel.

The atmosphere and natural views are amazing, and dinner was delicious. The room was clean, though the mattress and pillow were quite hard, and there’s no air conditioning. The bed may not suit older people, who could bump into the windows or metal bed frames.