CASCINA BURRONI Old farmhouse from the 1600s among nature ... wines ... good food and swimming pool

My best friend and I made an effort to see the more authentic, less tourist laden areas of Italy and this property was perfect for this. It is very much off the beaten path. The property has been in the family for generations and we had the chance to sample some of the homemade items that they produce from the land. They produce wines and preserves and any number of other seasonal items. It is well worth paying for breakfast, what we had was perfect & satisfying (homemade jam, brioches, bread, cappuccino, juice, soft cheese, prosciutto). The cottage looks newly renovated and was lovely inside. The hosts are very accommodating and were such lovely people (and very patient while I struggled with the language!). You will not have much service in the hills past Ovada, so make sure you have a good meeting place arranged ahead of time. It is a really lovely retreat and I would absolutely visit again.

We had been to Italy a few times prior to this visit, but that was to busy tourist areas where one does not get a taste of real Italy as such. This visit was very different. A family run farm on the outskirts in the hills of Lerma, only half an hour's drive north of Genoa, or 2 hrs from Milano Bergamo airport. The farm is more than 300 years old, passed down through generations and buildings are of the period. The main farmhouse is the family abode and there are 2 separate cottages for guests. Our immediate impression was truly sensational. The look of the place was as authentic as it gets. It looks like a postcard photo. When one enters the cottage there are fresh flowers, a welcome bottle of wine in a sparkling clean and fresh smelling room decorated beautifully as only a person who is an attentive artist would know how. A lot of hard work and attention to detail has been put into this venture. The cottages have everything one needs, and being self-catering it is an advantage that there is a large superstore called Bennet at the Ovada traffic circle just off of the Autostrada. It is also possible to arrange meals with Alessia, who runs the guesthouse business. Meals are served in an old stone walled cellar, something quite extraordinary and very special indeed. Alessia makes and bottles her own wine of a superior quality and vintage, and also makes all sorts of jams, Grappa, Hazelnut and honey mixes, as well as different honeys - some she makes herself, others are from other producers in the Lerma area, but wow, what super produce. Next time we visit we may bring our own car and buy a load of great things to take back. As far as activities on the farm, there is a lovely swimming pool at the top of the hill that is being finished in may (2016). It is possible to arrange some horse riding for children, and there is a small collection of farm animals that the kids can play with, and which were a huge hit with our 3 and 7 yr old kids. The place is very safe and quiet to let your kids run about and explore - this made it a very relaxing stay for us. There are a lot of amazing walks and trails one can hike on and many interesting and fascinating towns one can visit, all within a half hours drive from the farm. There is also a huge fashion discount outlet called Serravalle Scrivia Outlet, that sells most of the top trendy fashion of Italy at good prices. This guesthouse and the friendliness of Alessia and her family means we will be back often.