There are places that have no need to follow trends, because they possess something far more precious: an authentic story, a distinctive cuisine, and a natural elegance that never needs to show off. Amerigo 1934, in Savigno, in the heart of the Bolognese Apennines, is one of them.
Originally founded as an osteria by Grandfather Amerigo, it still preserves the spirit of a bygone era, when the table was above all a place to gather and the cuisine reflected the generosity of the countryside. The recipes of Grandmother Agnese continue to live on, reinterpreted with a contemporary sensibility while remaining deeply rooted in their origins.
The story of Amerigo is also a story of hospitality. In the post-war years, the grandparents had the idea of welcoming summer visitors, offering not a hotel but a handful of rooms for those wishing to spend the summer among the hills of the Apennines. A simple gesture, born of the same natural generosity that had always animated the osteria, which over time evolved into a new expression of the place’s identity.
In 2001, a meeting with designer Paolo Fiorentini opened a new chapter in this story. From a dialogue between different sensibilities — at times challenging, yet stimulating and fruitful — the Locanda’s five rooms were reborn: spaces where tradition meets design, allowing room for experimentation and creative freedom.
Glass, iron, wood and stone interact with the work of local artisans and the creations of Italy’s great designers over the past hundred years. Different materials and forms intertwine to engage both the eye and the mind, inviting guests to experience something that goes beyond a simple stay. These are spaces to observe and touch, where one can momentarily leave behind the substance of the present and be transported elsewhere, into a timeless dimension.
The atmosphere is one of delicate balance, embracing past and future, reality and imagination, memory and the warm feeling of being at home. In the rooms, just as in the kitchen, Amerigo’s identity emerges through a natural dialogue between different elements, without ever compromising its authenticity.
With Giacomo Orlandi at the helm of the kitchen and Alberto’s philosophy providing the guiding thread, the culinary tradition is renewed through carefully selected ingredients, sustainable production and the distinctive flavours of the Apennines. Truffles, mushrooms, game and seasonal produce take centre stage in understated dishes, striking a refined balance between rusticity and elegance. These are the new old recipes: familiar in spirit, contemporary in their sensibility.
The restaurant’s interiors tell a story of their own. From the charm of the old osteria to the Sala Gino Pellegrini, with its striking painted woodland, every detail preserves an authentic soul while leaving room for a touch of irony. In the wine cellar, a carefully curated selection showcases the wines of the Colli Bolognesi, alongside Italian labels chosen with equal care.
Amerigo 1934 is a declaration of love for local cuisine and hospitality, approached with intelligence and without nostalgia. It is a place where tradition is not an exercise in remembrance, but a living substance, capable of evolving gracefully and finding new forms through cuisine, design and the art of welcoming guests.
Because true elegance, both at the table and in the art of hospitality, lies in knowing who you are without feeling the need to prove it.
