La Piana dei Castagni

I'm reluctant to pass on this information about our favourite holiday location in country Bologna because if it becomes too popular as a result of your recommendations, we may have difficulty making future bookings! That said, it's an agriturismo, La Piana dei Castagni, in Castel D'Aiano, 1 hr south of Bologna. The place is a lightly-worked farm, and the rooms are as clean as you could wish for. We discovered it a few short years ago and have already returned several times from our home in Australia. The location, well off the road, adds to the peace. The setting is delightful, overlooking a valley towards the Appenines but it's Valeria, the owner, who makes the difference. Simply, she makes you feel like family. Her breakfasts are feasts of local produce and just about everything that can be is homemade. There are some excellent restaurants in the area, but if there's a choice of eating at La Piana in the evening, that's what we do. It's always the same, when it's time to leave it's touch and go whether my husband will touch and go, or touch and stay!