Home away from Home

A cozy insider tip in Emilia-Romagna: the Elizabeth Country House.

In many hotels, "feeling at home" is one of those things - and usually goes wrong. Not so at the newly opened Elizabeth Country House in Emilia-Romagna, which is part of the Design Hotels Association. Built not far from Bologna as a vacation home for the now deceased fashion entrepreneur Mario Bandiera (Les Copains) and his wife, it has been Italy's most individual mini-hotel since this summer, with just eleven rooms and personalized services that are second to none.

Before you arrive, you can order your favorite book for your bedside table, take part in private pottery classes, work in the vegetable garden, book a yoga class under the shady olive trees or have breakfast and lunch served by the Olympic-sized pool. Instead, you can also stroll through the private salons of the lady of the house, admire the impressive collection of art and furniture - and feel (almost) at home.
www.elizabethcountryhouse.com www.designhotels.com