Experience Modena through the Eyes & Mind of Massimo Bottura
Emilia-Romagna is a gourmet paradise where eating and drinking exceedingly well is mandatory. On this 5-day immersive Hosted Experience, you will get to meet Massimo Bottura and appreciate Modena and the region through his eyes. A wonderful opportunity to hear insights into his beautiful world of culinary creations, values around ethical cooking, respect for mother nature and his passion for social change.
Bottura’s creative mastery of Italian cooking allowed him to reimagine ingredients from the local Emilia-Romagna region with colour, form and taste. Join the guestlist now and dream about the wonderful dishes just waiting to be discovered on this trip to Italy.
“Cooking is about emotion, it’s about culture, it’s about love, it’s about memory…”
— MASSIMO BOTTURA —
Massimo Bottura is hailed as a storyteller and artist as much as a cook. Bottura’s freedom weaves narratives through his dishes, breaking traditions and innovating with ingredients. Enjoy Bottura’s warm hospitality on a 5-day travel experience designed entirely around Massimo’s culinary art and creations and the regional culture of Emilia-Romagna. The experience is hosted in the Modenese countryside at Casa Maria Luigia, Massimo’s guest house where he opened his new dining experience “Francescana at Maria Luigia”, featuring a tasting menu with Osteria Francescana most iconic dishes.
CELEBRITY CHEF, AUTHOR & RESTAURATEUR
Chef Massimo Bottura is without a doubt one of the foremost ambassadors of modern Italian cuisine. From his first trattoria — Trattoria del Campazzo — on the outskirts of Modena in 1986, where he worked with Rezdora Lidia Cristoni, to an apprenticeship under Chef Georges Coigny. Bottura formed a culinary foundation that combined regional Italian cooking and classical French training. He further refined his style under legendary Alain Ducasse at Louis XV in Monte Carlo.
“Contemporary Italian is not a cuisine of revolution, it’s a cuisine of evolution.”
— MASSIMO BOTTURA —
Your stay will be at Casa Maria Luigia, an intimate 18th-Century Country House nestled in the hills of Emilia-Romagna and surrounded by agricultural landscape of the countryside of Modena. Massimo Bottura and Lara Gilmore, partners in life and business, acquired the property with the intention of extending the art of hospitality beyond the doors of Osteria Francescana, and where they share their passion for art, music and food in a new form, from the heart of Emilia-Romagna!
Guestlist is now open, submit your application to join.
Private group bookings available.
STARTING FROM
€36,300
JOIN GUESTLIST
• Members preferred rates available before 21 April 2024
• Rates per room based on double occupancy
• Private experiences from 15 rooms / up to 24 guests
Questions? Contact us to learn more or request a private group experience.
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EXPERIENCE HIGHLIGHTS
Stay at Casa Maria Luigia
Casa Maria Luigia is an intimate 18th-Century Country House nestled in the hills of Emilia-Romagna and surrounded by agricultural landscape of the countryside of Modena. The space at Casa Maria Luigia plays home to contemporary art from all over the world, with a catalogue of music in the music room and a beautiful collection of books.
Exclusive Experience
Exclusive use for this Hosted Experience of this 12-room boutique property marries traditional, local craftsmanship with contemporary design to offer a reimagined view of what Italian artistry can be.
Masterclass with Chef Massimo Bottura
This private masterclass is designed around Chef Massimo’s culinary art and creations and the regional culture of Emilia Romagna.
Private Dining at Osteria Francescana
A place to eat emotions, to feel enveloped by warm hospitality and to experience Italy at its finest. It is here in this kitchen that Massimo Bottura is hailed as a storyteller and artist as much as a cook.
Parmigiano Reggiano Production
Enjoy a guided tour of a Parmigiano Reggiano DOP Organic Farm to witness the organic farming craft of artisan cheese making for its unique taste of the region.
Learn to make Tortellini with Modena Grandmothers
Enjoy a cooking class with the grandmothers of Modena to learn how to make Tortellini and while doing so, support Tortellante, the Social Enterprise created by Massimo Bottura.
Aperitivo & Private Dinner at Francescana
This private dining experience takes place in a turn of the century Carriage House transformed into a stunning dining room with open kitchen, contemporary artwork and views of the surrounding countryside.
Discover Modena
Stroll around Piazza Grande, stop for a coffee or a gelato at one of the many lovely cafés, or grab a sandwich or a snack from Mercato Albinelli, Modena's historical market.
WHAT’S INCLUDED
5 Day / 4 Night Experience
Luxury Accommodation at Casa Maria Luigia
Bologna Airport Transfers
Full-Board Menu
Welcome Reception
Truffle Hunting Experience
Q&A with Chef Massimo Bottura
Tortellini Masterclass with Tortellante
Fresh Pasta Masterclass
Private dinner at world-famous Osteria Francescana
Dinner at Francescana
Emilian Entertainment Evening
Wine Pairing
Farewell Sunday Brunch
LIMITED AVAILABILITY
Private trips for groups can also be arranged.
Booking is now open, join the guestlist to book.
Casa Maria Luigia is an art resort in the Modena countryside, assembled piece by piece by Bottura and his wife Lara Gilmore in the spaces of an eighteenth-century villa. This 12-room boutique hotel combines local craftsmanship with contemporary design to offer a reimagined view of what Italian artistry can be. No two rooms are similar, with each featuring contemporary art, vintage and design furniture, Dedar fabrics and Ortigia bath amenities.
INDOOR FACILITIES INCLUDE
Cozy Cocktail Lounge
Glass-Enclosed Portico Lounge
Vinyl Record Music Room
Family Style Kitchen
Complimentary Beverages & Snacks
OUTDOOR FACILITIES INCLUDE
Wood-Decked Swimming Pool
Complimentary Beverages & Snacks in the Pool House
Tennis Court
Leisure Walking Paths
Wood-Burning Oven & Vegetable Garden
DAY 1
Bologna Airport Pickup & Transfer
Arrival and Check-in at Casa Maria Luigia, Modena
Reception & Private Dining Experience
DAY 2
Breakfast
Transfer to Valsamoggia
Truffle Hunting Day Experience
Fresh Pasta Making Masterclass
Private Dining Experience with special entertainment
DAY 3
Breakfast
Tortellini Foundation Experience
Discover the scents of Modena at Mercato Albinelli
Lunch at Roots
Fast-Cars, Slow-Food
Dining Experience
DAY 4
Breakfast
Embrace Modena through Parmigiano Reggiano
Savour Modena’s acclaimed Balsamic Vinegar Experience
Masterclass with Chef Massimo Bottura
Grand Finale Dining Experience at Osteria Francescana
DAY 5
Breakfast
Exclusive Farewell Brunch
Check out from Casa Maria Luigia, Modena
Transfer to Bologna Airport
VIEW FULL ITINERARY
Embark on a meaningful journey through Emiglia Romagna with Satopia, where your travel experience directly supports the empowerment of local communities. A portion of your trip’s cost contributes to two incredible organisations, each playing a vital role in enriching Italy’s cultural heritage. These partners not only enhance your travel experience but also ensure that your visit has a positive impact on the destination and its people.
Il Tortellante
Il Tortellante was established in January 2016. This project, conceived in Modena, Italy, was initiated by chef Massimo Bottura, his wife Lara Gilmore, and three motivated mothers, aiming to support young people with autism and their families. Il Tortellante focuses on teaching these individuals the art of making fresh pasta, particularly tortellini, a staple in Emilia-Romagna cuisine. This initiative not only provides educational and developmental opportunities but also promotes inclusion within the community.
Learn more about Il Toertellante here
Roots
Established in 2020 by Chef Jessica Rosval and the Francescana Group, Roots Community Restaurant is a youth-led initiative in Modena, aimed at empowering women in the culinary field. Inspired by the journey of a Nigerian refugee, Ella, Roots bridges the gap in the hospitality labour market. It offers women professional culinary training, confidence-building, and accredited qualifications, paving their way into thriving careers. The restaurant, operational since 2022, epitomises a self-sustaining model of social impact.
Learn more about Roots here
WORLD-CLASS HOSTS
Join some of the most accomplished people on the planet in the quest for enriching adventures, human connection and personal transformation.
UNPRECEDENTED ACCESS
Unique access to people and places that are often inaccessible, join our community of global travellers with a guestlist applicaiton.
A MEANINGFUL MISSION
Give back to local communities, supporting conservation causes or social initiatives that improve the quality of life for others.
