Relais Roncolo 1888

We had just one night at this wonderful place. The location is fantastic, the surroundings epic and the hospitality second to none. Special mention to Michael who went above and beyond with all his assistance and the Christo, who transformed our meal experience into a culinary journey. Both food and wine were superb.

BEAUTIFUL SETTING! The Relais is gorgeous, peaceful, magical. We were warmly welcomed in the middle of a torrential rain storm that swept through. Our two suites were beautifully furnished. The hotel staff were lovely. The pool was just the thing at the end of the day touring Parma. The wait staff at the restaurant could have been friendlier. They were off putted by the fact that we had two small children in our party. We wish we could have stayed longer.

We stayed one night and were due to arrive in time for an anniversary tasting meal with paired wines but the weather ( thunder storms over the Alps) and a technical issue on our flight meant we arrived after midnight. The hotel treated us to a bottle of champagne and a free balsamic vinegar bottle as a present and then extended our check out to after 4pm the following day. They were amazing! Breakfast was fabulous with so much choice and delicious food; the pool is wonderful and despite having only a light lunch, it was fantastic. The room was large with everything you need including a yoga mat. Make sure you do the balsamic vinegar tasting. The staff were so laid back and helpful we felt de-stressed instantly. We are planning on returning and staying a lot longer!

My husband and I really enjoyed our stay there. Prior to arrival, I had been corresponding with Michael and Simone who both were very prompt and helpful in organizing tours, reservations and recommendations. Upon arrival, everything was executed flawlessly. As you can see on the map, the hotel is located in Venturini Baldini winery, however, instead of turning right into the winery, the hotel and restaurant is further up the hill with a gorgeous view overlooking the region. We reserved a Superior Villa but got upgraded to a Senior Suite Villa upon arrival, which was a nice surprise! The room was very spacious and well thought out. I appreciated that the windows had screens as there are a lot of mosquitoes and insects around and you could open the window and not be worried about it. I also appreciated the heated floor in the very spacious bathroom as well as the complimentary drinks and snacks. It was one of my favorite rooms during our time in Italy. Restaurant Limonaia is a short walk nearby. Breakfast (included) started at 7:30A and was an impressive assortment of breads, pastries, cold cuts, cheese, fruit, etc as well as cooked to order hot items (eggs, pancakes, etc). I highly recommend dinner at the restaurant, where the tasting menu was at a very affordable price (85 Euros) or you can order a la carte. The main part of the restaurant is in a covered patio with gorgeous views of the region below. Within the hotel grounds, the pool is a bit further up past the restaurant and parking area and you can stroll around the vineyards up on top of the hill and follow the road to the bottom to the winery and lake. Very pleasant, though the path at times can be a bit bumpy. There is also a gym near the villa that goes into what looks like a basement dungeon. There are also bicycles available to use as well next to the front desk/reception. Our friend was visiting us for the day from Milan and the staff was so accommodating to add him to the wine tasting and balsamic tasting. Both are highly recommended as they take you to the attic to see the different barrels to sample their balsamic vinegar and then down to the cellar to sample their Lambrusco in one of the wine storage areas. All the staff we encountered were pleasant and friendly and really made our stay very enjoyable. I particularly wanted to note that they were able to find us a last minute tour of a prosciutto producer, which we thoroughly enjoyed! My only regret is that 2 nights was too short! I definitely wanted to spend 3 or more nights there, but unfortunately my schedule didn’t allow for it. The other tip I would say would be to stay during the week if you are interested in doing tours of Parma cheese or prosciutto facilities. Unfortunately, majority of them only conduct tours during the weekday and the cheese tours are only in the early morning when they start making the cheese. I would definitely stay here again and highly recommend this hotel!

The breakfast—wow. It was easily one of the best I’ve ever had! The cappuccino was perfection, and the homemade crostata was a dream. Honestly, it’s a must-try if you ever go. The entire staff was so attentive, and they made sure we had everything we needed. Massimiliano, the manager, was incredibly kind and made us feel right at home from the moment we walked in. A big shoutout to Michael, the receptionist, who was so dedicated and helpful. He printed out an entire guide with the best restaurants and parking spots in Parma, which was a lifesaver. He also took us on an unforgettable tour of the aceto balsamico vinegar cellar on the estate. The entire process was so fascinating—watching the barrels age and learning about the centuries-old tradition behind it was something I’ll never forget. One of the highlights was the tour of Fattoria Rossi, the local Parmesan factory. The team arranged it for us, and we were able to see firsthand how they make Parmigiano Reggiano. Needless to say, we left with six kilos of cheese! The rooms were gorgeous—perfectly renovated and so well-maintained. It felt like a blend of history and modern comfort. And our little dog had the best time running around the beautiful gardens. Relais Roncolo truly made us fall in love with Emilia Romagna. It was an unforgettable experience, and we can’t wait to go back. Thank you to the whole team for making our stay so special.