Elizabeth Country House, Bologna, Italy

A fashion-rooted retreat in Minerbio’s medieval calm

Just beyond Bologna, in the quiet lanes and soft countryside of Minerbio, Elizabeth Country House feels like a private home with a very good eye. It once belonged to the family behind Les Copains, and that heritage still shows in the way the place is put together: confident style, collected pieces, and spaces that look curated rather than designed.

With only 11 rooms and suites, everything stays intimate. Each space has its own character, arched details here, beams and beautifully imperfect lines there, and the atmosphere is more house-guest than hotel-stay. The real signature, though, is on the walls: bespoke murals hand-painted with artisanal flair that give the interiors a sense of story, not just decoration.

Days move outdoors as easily as they do inside. Between the hotel’s two buildings, the pool sits like a little summer scene, framed with plush day-beds, sunloungers and hammocks, with a barrel sauna close by when you want warmth after a swim. There’s a vegetable garden too, adding that grounded, countryside rhythm that makes everything feel slower in the best way. Bikes are on hand for gentle rides, and the mood is very much switch-off and settle-in.