Photo: © Casa Maria Luigia
Casa Maria Luigia: an Emilian country house for art lovers and gourmets
Just outside Modena, Casa Maria Luigia reveals itself like a family home turned intimate manifesto. Bought by Massimo Bottura and Lara Gilmore for a single symbolic euro above the reserve, this 18th‑century house tells a story of filial love and a profound attachment to Emilia. Between time‑worn frescoes, design pieces, radical artworks and the aromas of Parmigiano and aged balsamic, it becomes a discreet stage where gastronomy, music and the Italian countryside meet. Much of what happens here still feels like a well‑kept secret.
An 18th‑Century country house as a love letter to Emilia
Around fifteen minutes’ drive from Modena, at the far end of Stradello Bonaghino, Casa Maria Luigia appears as a discreet, intimate country house in the Emilian countryside. This 18th‑century property was bought in June 2017 by chef Massimo Bottura and his wife, Lara Gilmore, who bid just one symbolic euro above the auction’s starting price. The almost storybook gesture fits the spirit of the place: everything here speaks of a deep attachment to the land, to history and to family memory.
The very name Casa Maria Luigia is a tribute to Massimo Bottura’s mother. The idea was never to create a classic hotel, but a private house open to a handful of guests, with the warmth and ease of a lived‑in residence. The main building rises over three floors. Some descriptions mention 12 rooms, others 25; more than a discrepancy, it reflects the desire to keep the house on a human scale, far from standardized hotel formats.
From its official opening in spring 2019, Casa Maria Luigia has positioned itself as a contemporary retreat for food and culture lovers: a place to stay, of course, but also somewhere to experience art, gastronomy and the gentle rhythms of the Emilian countryside. Unlike grand urban palazzi such as Q92 Noto Hotel, a baroque palazzo with front‑row views of Noto Cathedral, this house embraces a direct relationship with fields, gardens and the light of the Po Valley plain. Everything is designed so that a visit feels like staying with passionate hosts rather than passing through an anonymous property.
Photo: © Casa Maria Luigia
Photo: © Casa Maria Luigia
Photo: © Casa Maria Luigia
Photo: © Casa Maria Luigia
Photo: © Casa Maria Luigia
Photo: © Casa Maria Luigia
Photo: © Casa Maria Luigia
Photo: © Casa Maria Luigia
Historic architecture and a reimagined carriage house: a dialogue between past and present
Casa Maria Luigia is composed of an 18th‑century manor house and a two‑storey former carriage house dating from the early 1900s, now converted into a restaurant and breakfast space. This architectural duo encapsulates the estate’s vocation for hospitality: the slightly formal elegance of the original residence faces the more convivial, active spirit of the outbuilding, where guests meet morning and evening.
Inside the manor, original walnut parquet floors and frescoed ceilings recall the rural nobility of old Emilia. These historic features have not been fossilised in a museum‑style approach; they coexist with contemporary furniture and carefully chosen design pieces. The overall mood is what the MICHELIN Guide calls “Modern Design & Quiet”: a deep sense of calm, yet never austere.
The carriage house, for its part, has changed function without losing its identity as a working building. Today it hosts breakfast by day, and in the evening becomes the setting for the Francescana at Maria Luigia dining experience. Generous volumes, openings onto the gardens and the original structure are paired with a more contemporary staging, centred on sharing at large tables, attention to detail and a clear view of the kitchen at work. Where other Italian country addresses, such as Verdura Resort, a serene Sicilian escape by the sea, open onto the coast, Casa Maria Luigia foregrounds its relationship with its agricultural buildings, transformed without nostalgia yet with real respect.
A private collection of art, books and vinyl in the service of the stay
One of Casa Maria Luigia’s most distinctive traits lies in how Massimo Bottura and Lara Gilmore have invested the property: as an extension of their own world. The house is filled with their private collection, a layered, evolving ensemble that brings together contemporary art, books, vinyl records, as well as emblematic Italian cars, limited‑edition motorbikes and an impressive store of Emilian ingredients.
The walls host works by artists such as Tracey Emin, Damien Hirst, Barbara Kruger and Ai Weiwei. These names, usually seen in major international galleries, find an unexpected place here: in corridors and sitting rooms, sometimes near the music room or the communal kitchen. As mentioned earlier, the walnut floors and historic frescoes provide a backdrop for this contemporary staging, creating a constant dialogue between local heritage and global creation.
The house also includes a music room with thousands of vinyl records available to guests, a cocktail room and a communal kitchen that is always open. Together, these shared spaces encourage intuitive use of the house: choosing a record, leafing through an art book, making a coffee in the kitchen or lingering over a drink. Where some hotels hang a few pieces of art as decor, Casa Maria Luigia offers a personal, almost domestic universe, where every object reflects a clear taste for culture, music and Italian conviviality.
Photo: © Casa Maria Luigia
Art‑filled chic bedrooms and everyday Emilian ease
The bedrooms at Casa Maria Luigia continue this sense of a lived‑in home. Described as “chic, art‑filled”, they feature wooden floors, minibars, espresso machines and flat‑screen televisions. Some rooms have Gucci wallpaper and mid‑century furniture, reinforcing the impression of staying in a carefully curated contemporary interior, considered down to the smallest detail. A penthouse suite offers a separate living room and a balcony, providing extra space for travellers who really want to settle in.
The property welcomes guests aged 15 and over and accepts only assistance dogs. This policy reinforces the calm, experience‑focused atmosphere, ideal for couples, friends or solo travellers seeking time to themselves. Stays include an Emilian buffet breakfast, as well as salads, seasonal snacks and a selection of drinks available in the Maria Luigia kitchen and at the pool house during the summer season. The aim is not to multiply formal services, but to offer, throughout the day, thoughtful culinary touches rooted in the region.
The outdoor areas complete this sense of easy living. The estate offers an outdoor pool, a tennis court, a gym and gardens where staff pick fresh herbs and vegetables. Bicycles are also available, and wine‑focused excursions are organised nearby. In the same way that coastal properties such as Le Calette, Sicily’s hidden sanctuary among Cefalù’s coves set their own rhythm, Casa Maria Luigia follows its own pace: here, the Emilian countryside, neighbouring vineyards and days structured by meals become the natural backdrop to the stay.
Emilian gastronomy and Francescana at Maria Luigia: the table as theatre
Beyond the rooms, Casa Maria Luigia stands out for its approach to dining, shaped directly by Massimo Bottura. In the converted carriage house, Francescana at Maria Luigia offers a nine‑course tasting menu each evening for a small group of guests. The experience unfolds in a deliberately intimate setting, where the culinary gesture is almost told as a story: that of Emilia, its produce and the creativity of a chef who has left a profound mark on Italian fine dining.
By day, the same building hosts breakfast. The buffet showcases emblematic local products: Parmigiano Reggiano, focaccia baked in the on‑site pizza oven, balsamic vinegar from the acetaia installed in the house’s attic. This acetaia, a true attic of liquid treasures, embodies the direct link between the house and the region’s know‑how. As mentioned earlier, a store of Emilian ingredients is also kept on site, underscoring the importance placed on raw materials.
The room rate does not automatically include the Francescana at Maria Luigia dining experience. To take part, guests must choose a specific non‑refundable rate that includes this option when booking. This system preserves the deliberately small scale of the dinner, conceived as a distinct moment within the stay. Between the generous morning buffet, freely available seasonal snacks and the evening’s grand table, the day naturally falls into a culinary rhythm, true to the idea of a house opened by and for gastronomic enthusiasts.
An intimate retreat for epicureans, recognised by MICHELIN Keys
Casa Maria Luigia is clearly aimed at epicurean guests, sensitive to food, art and a certain discretion. The MICHELIN Guide has awarded it Three MICHELIN Keys and calls the experience “An extraordinary stay”, underlining the singular character of this small‑scale property in the Modena countryside. The atmosphere is described as “Modern Design & Quiet”, a phrase that neatly sums up what one feels here: a confident modernity, serving comfort and tranquillity rather than spectacle.
The way stays are organised mirrors this sense of a discreet address. Casa Maria Luigia is open from Tuesday to Sunday at noon and does not host guests on Sunday and Monday nights. The property does not take reservations on Sundays or Mondays, and only welcomes guests aged 15 and over, with no animals allowed apart from assistance dogs. This chosen rhythm allows the house to preserve its balance and stay aligned with the team’s working patterns, particularly in the kitchen.
With an overall rating of 4.8 from around 330 reviews, the address clearly resonates with travellers looking for more than a simple base from which to visit Modena. Here, the stay itself becomes the destination: an 18th‑century Emilian country house transformed into a contemporary retreat where a tribute to a mother, a love of place and a chef’s passion for culinary creation converge. The surrounding countryside, historic buildings, art collection and Bottura‑signed table form a coherent whole, conceived as a complete way of life rather than a series of separate services.
Explore the surroundings
Booking Casa Maria Luigia: planning a stay in the Modena countryside
Staying at Casa Maria Luigia means choosing a place that runs on its own schedule, with clear rules designed to preserve its character. Guests are welcomed from Tuesday to Sunday at midday, with no stays on Sunday or Monday nights. Reservations are not offered on Sundays or Mondays, and the property accepts only guests aged 15 and over, with no pets apart from assistance dogs. These conditions shape a peaceful atmosphere, conducive to a stay where there is time to explore the house, gardens, music, books and, of course, the table.
Booking the FRANCESCANA at MARIA LUIGIA dining experience requires selecting a specific non‑refundable rate; the cost of this dinner is not included by default in room rates and must be added at the time of reservation. Rates include accommodation, an Emilian buffet breakfast, and salads, seasonal snacks and a selection of drinks available in the Maria Luigia kitchen and at the pool house during the summer season. With an outdoor pool, tennis court, gym, garden, bikes to borrow and nearby wine tours, each day can balance culinary exploration, gentle activity and unhurried downtime.
Casa Maria Luigia
Stradello Bonaghino, 56
41126 Modena MO – Italy
Book at https://casamarialuigia.com/ or through your usual hotel reservation platform.
For travellers seeking a discreet stay where the generosity of an Emilian country house meets the gastronomy of Massimo Bottura and a personal art collection, Casa Maria Luigia provides a rare setting. It is an address to plan thoughtfully, adding, if desired, the Francescana at Maria Luigia experience at the booking stage to fully embrace this love letter to Modena and Emilia.
