Presentation of "Fattoria Paradiso" Guest Farm

HISTORY
Fattoria Paradiso, formely known as the Ugarte Lovatelli Castle, stands on a sunny hilltop near the medieval village of Bertinoro.
Ancient documents indicate that it goes back to the 15th century, though it may even go back as far as Roman times. The location of the hilltop, overlooking the Via Emilia, with vestiges of the time that have been found buried on the land where the Molino vineyard now stands, lead historians to believe that it must have been a strategic point of observation of the carriages in transit on the Roman road and also the site of country homes of the time.
The Villa and surrounding land are owned by Countess Gabriella Ugarte Lovatelli, the last heiress of the patrician family of the same name, purchased at the end of the 19th century. The ancient mansions is famous also as the birthplace of Marco Palmezzano, disciple of Melozzo da Forlì. This is confirmed by the initials of the maestro "M.P." (by a curious coincidence, the same as Mario Pezzi's) sculptured on the stone mantelpiece of the monumental fireplace in the apartment that Fattoria Paradiso reserves for illustrious guests. Some of these have included the sculptor Giacomo MANZU', the American ambassador Dina LUCE, the writer Julien GREEN, the Nobel prize winner Dario FO', the writer and poet Antony BURGES, the actor Danny KEY, the Russian astronaut Valentina TERESKOVA, and the American Karhin THORTON, as well as many other famous figures in the arts, culture, theater, cinema and politics.
The presence of these guests and the frequent occurrence of dinner parties, round tables, conference, concerts and other cultural events for which the Pezzis have always shown their noble hospitality in rooms of great distinction and reception capacity, have given Fattoria Paradiso the well-deserved title of "The cultural salon of Romagna".

TRADITION
On the path taken by Mario Pezzi and his wife Ubalda Rina, they are accompanied by their daughter Graziella, her husband Filiberto Melia and their grandson Jacopo. Three generations in harmony, in the progress of the vineyards into the third millennium. This is Fattoria Paradiso, where the ancient agrarian philosophy is flanked by modern, targeted and tested technologies, where the quality of the production has always been privileged by the Pezzis, with their ideal of the importance of an effective parallelism between cultivation and culture when it comes to wines. A quotation from one of the pages of the guest book reads "Sun, air and soil are not enough to make good wine, if there were not the men, in Romagna, who with their art shape the product of this land and make it unique". Mario Pezzi, master and poet of the vineyard, is considered to be the man responsible for the enological reawakening of this land.

THE FARM
It extends over 50 hectares of vineyards with soil that is a combination of calcareous rock and sandstone, ideal for growing grapes. Located at a moderate altitude, the first heights of the Tosco-Romagnolo Appennines, in addition to enjoying a congenial microclimate, the farm has the great advantage of the love that Mario Pezzi has always had for grapes. All of this breathes life into the fine cru wines of the region. In particular, Barbarossa, the pride of the farm, from a vine that Pezzi traced in 1955: Pagadebit and Cagnina, vines which had long disappeared and that he was able to restore to the heritage of the region (1960). Thanks to is interest, these wines later obtained D.O.C. status. Another first, early in the Seventies, was the creation Sangiovese, which officially and definitively consecrated the longevity of this wine considered until then a wine not meant for aging and advertised in the national press as "La Pasqua del Sangiovese" (Sangiovese the wine for Easter). Five thousand bottles of "Lepri" were stacked in a snow cellar of the Villa in the summer of 1979 and on June 9, 1985 they were brought back out into the light of day and the pleasure of the table, "It's all thanks to the roses" - Mario Pezzi joked then, pleased and embarassed by all the congratulations and applaused of the guests who could not believe their taste buds when they sipped the ruby nectar that filled their glasses. At the Farm, roses continue to bloom every year at the and of every row of grape vines.

THE CELLAR
Thanks to the agrarian philosophy inherited by Mario Pezzi and practiced in the constant, correct balance between past and recent tecniques, steel tanks, barriques made according to the ancient Bordeaux method out of wood from the forests of central France live side by side in romantic, convivial harmony with the majestic, impressive opulence of the great oaken casks from Slavonia.

AWARDS
Fattoria Paradiso no longer as enough wallspace to display all the certificates and awards it has won over the years.
The tireless work that Mario Pezzi has poured into research and experimentation in the vineyard and cellar, has led to the creation of wines of the highest prestige and exquisitely aristocratic structure, that have attained deserved acclain thoughout the world.
The acclaim and applause, in particular, of Pope John Paul II, during his visit to Romagna, Ronald Reagan and Sandro Pertini, on the occasion of their historic toast at the Quirinale Palace; Bill Clinton at the Niaf Gala in Washington. Mario Pezzi, Commandeur de la Commanderie des Cordon Bleus de France and Confère de Ordre Mondial  des Gourmets Degustateurs was awarded the "Oscar for wine", "Winemaker of the World", Gold Medal of the Chamber of Commerce, Grand Medal of Cangrande at the wine fair of Verona, many gold medals at the enological competition of Pramagiore. He won the Dino Villani prize of the Italian Cooking Academy, Regions of Italy award, the Gold Oak, the recognition of the Italian Enotechnical Association, the silver medal at the Italian Wine Competition in New York, the international award at the Wine Challenge 1994 in London. He was the official supplier of  the Seoul Olympics in 1988, and the representative of the Emilia Romagna Region at Expo, Seville in 1992.
His wines were selected in exclusive for all the banquets in celebration of the 900 years of the University of Bologna (Alma Mater Studiorum Secularia Nona) and for the Paris Romance Ball (the Los Angeles Master Chorale).

THE GUEST FARM
Fattoria Paradiso's cellars have always been open to visitors. It was back in the Fifties when wine lovers first began stopping in to visit.
The precious beverage brought them into contact with the delights of the country and led to a new type of tourism: the people who came to the hilltop vineyards were fascinated by more than its marvelous wines - by the sunlit landscape, the uncontaminated nature dominated by a proud flock of peacocks who spread their tails for the wonder of the visitors, with the narcissistic strut and romantic subtleties of their dance of courtship. Fattoria Paradiso responded to the dreams of many visitors when, in addition to offering them its many wines and splendid views of the historical, artistic and cultural marvels of which it is the custodian, it began to provide structures and facilities capable of accommodating, with the hospitality that distinguishes this part of Italy, growing numbers of lovers of this new type of tourism.
After restructuring (in respect of the original architecture) two of its buildings that dated back to the 15th and 18th centuries, known as the "Cascina dei Giaggioli" and the "Cascina Giardino" located one above and one below the main farm buildings. The Fattoria now offers accomodation for up to 40 guests, in 12 rooms with bath and 6 suites. The linens for the bath, kitchen and bedroom are supplied by the structure and included in the price of the stay. The rooms are equipped to accommodate disabled guests and there are no architectural barriers of any kind. They are elegantly fumished and named after the farm's own wines and products. All the rooms are equipped with towel warmer, hair dryer, refrigerator, shower or tub with shower stall, and quests can all use the lounge.

CONFERENCE HALL / RESTAURANT

SALETTA DEI BRINDISI (TOASTING ROOM): A smaller area with a capacity of 20/30 people.

SALETA PAVONI (PEACOCK ROOM): Mainly used as a conference hall, it has a capacity of about 150 people and is equipped with fixed and mobile microphones and a recording system, luminous blackboard, blackboard with detachable sheets and screen for projecting slides.

SALA BELVEDERE (BELVEDERE ROOM): Just above the Peacock Room, on the upper floor, it can be used to serve meals or for coffee breaks. It is served by a kitchen on the same floor and private bath facilities. The two rooms have a separate entrance, private parking lot and the use of the adjacent park for a welcoming cocktail service as well as a terrace in the summer.

SALA DEGLI ULIVI (OLIVE ROOM): Small meeting room, can also be used as a secretariat.

SALONE DELLE VIGNE (VINEYARD ROOM) (multifunctional): Has a capacity of about 200 for banquets and 250 for conferences. Equipped with microphones, recording system, luminous blackboard, blackboard with detachable sheets. It is an elegant, sunlit room.

GAZEBO PARCO DELLE VIGNE (VINEYARD PARK GAZEBO): Adjacent to the Vineyard Room, it has a capacity of about 300 people. It has a small park for musical recitals or other.

SALA DELLO STEMMA (COAT OF ARMS ROOM): Imposing Renaissance tavem with a huge fireplace and a capacity of 135 people.

SALETTA DEI MANOSCRITTI (MANUSCRIPT ROOM): Room with a capacity of 40/50 people, it opens onto the Coat of Arms Room.

PARCO LOVATELLI (LOVATELLI PARK): Ancient park with trees hundreds of years old, adjacent to the Coat of Arms Room, equipped with electrical outlets, nicely furnished. Has a capacity of about 200 people.

NOTE: The use of a hall or outdoor area also includes the availability of the adjacent area, in full respect of privacy and considering all the possible inconveniences caused by the weather.

The Fattoria is located in a quiet position, surrounded by verdant farmland and tidy vineyards. During your stay at the farm you can organize visits to our museums (there is a wine museum with a historical enotheque, a museum of farming equipment, a museum of antique motorcycles and cars) visits to the vineyards and to the Renaissance tavern.

THE MUSEUMS
Wine museum: Bottles from every time, every place, from famous vineyards and vintages, as well as unknown ones, to speak the universal language of wine. Pages of Italian and international wine history are marked by colorful labels, somewhat faded with the passage of time, that lie patiently on the austere shelves of the cellar under the gaze, sometimes curious, sometimes interested or even amazed, of the visitors who come through the medieval sliding gate in wrought iron, down aisles at times crowded with the great red wines of the farm.

Museum of Farm Civilization: The traditional folk calendar of the Romagna region "Lunere di Smembar" in its 1931 edition, listed the objects and fumishings of a great patriarchal farm kitchen. This one seems to be alive today with its rows of utensils of ancient use in agriculture, for working the land and above all for making wine. The monumental "Landini" tractor with its deep, gruff voice that accompanied the hard labor and the festivity of threshing stands before a wine press from 1600, pieces of ceramic and copper, the carriage of the famous tenor, Angelo Masini, an ancint loom.
The collection was patiently put together by Mario Pezzi to provide a realistic yet romantic view of distant times that still fascinate all those who approach the aromas, the houses and the objects used by the ancient people of the fields.

Collection of Antique Cars and Motorcycles
Lancia:         Aurelia B24S - Aurelia B10 - Flaminia - Fulvia 2C
Alfa Romeo:  2600 Touring - 1300 Spider Pininfarina - Montreal
Fiat:              508 Balilla - 501 Spider - 850 Coupè sport

Gilera:           500 Saturno
Guzzi:            Falcone 500
Sertum:         500

Mario Pezzi devotes constant care and attention to his stable, of which he says with ill-concealed pride: "They all start as soon as you turn the key".
The unquestionable fascination they hold for visitors is an extra delight amid the rare beauty of the scenery.

CULTURAL INITIATIVES
To valorize and spread the culture of quality wines, the history and traditions of the Romagna region, various initiatives are organized: sports competitions, rallies of antique cars and motorcycles, concerts,round tables and conferences, on the property and in the vast Renaissance halls.
Tours of the vineyards, cellars, and museums can be organized with reservations, as well as guided wine-tasting events. During the summer courses of cooking and antique furniture restoration are held at the farm. The first Sunday in September has become a traditional feast "Hospitality at the Table" the great wine festival. In Spring there is "Vinarte" the biennial Fattoria Paradiso award for painting and the prestigious "International Paradiso Award" for contemporary chamber music, sponsored by the Presidency of the Council of Ministers and the Minister for Cultural Heritage.

LOCANDA GRADISCA - A restaurant with atmosphere
Where you can dine with nature
The Pezzi family of Fattoria Paradiso buil their restaurant up here, on the top of the hill called Barbarossa, where the view and nostalgia give visitors the impression they can still hear the echoes of voices and the calls of the ancient people of the fields, whre they sit entranced by the rolling progress of the hills toward the great plain, caressed by the breath of sea breeze. They called it "LOCANDA GRADISCA" in memory of the romantic character in AMARCORD, the nostalgic film by the great FEDERICO FELLINI, maestro, friend and admirer. They wanted it to be a faithful custodian of the gastronomical delights of the zone, inspired by ARTUSI, another great hero of this land, enriched with the strong connotations of taste and pleasure. A sober, elegant structure that offers the visitors, enamored of the scenery, a place to sit and "dine with nature".
The interior is a coherent blend of refined nobility, that draws harmony from the solemn beams in wood and the elegant supporting columns. Romantic corners, a large, cool patio where Maria Cristina of Swede dined when she traveled through Italy, the panoramic terrace dedicated to Ferrer and the hold friend of the family Luigi Veronelli, create a discrete, harmonious atmosphere, designed to facilitate that spirit of aggregation and cheer that the table has always succeded in inspiring. LOCANDA GRADISCA is just as the Pezzis of Fattoria Paradiso wanted it to be, up there in the shade of the centuries-old cedar of Lebanon, at the center of a sunny plateau that faces the great park and solarium with the pools, beyond which lie the Spungone vineyard and the silvery olive orchard. A place of joy, amid noble wines.

FUN, SPORTS, HEALTH
Past the restaurant, where the vineyards fan out and cover the hillsides with their green tendrils, the blue water of two swimming pools reflects the fronds of palm and olive trees that frame the over 3000 meters of solarium. A little father on, in the deer woods, there is a fully-equipped exercise and hiking trail and a trail for mountain bikers. Bocci courts, ping pong, volleyball and basketball courts are at the disposal of the guests, and it is easy to reach nearby tennis courts, riding stables, a lake for sport fishing, golf course and woods generous with mushrooms and truffles.
The geographical position of the Farm makes it possible to organize excursions of different lengths and time, organized for the study of the historical, cultural and artistic heritage of the region. Visit medieval BERTINORO, dear to Alighieri, Barbarossa, Carducci, the hot springs at FRATTA, CASTROCARO, CERVIA, art cities like FAENZA, RAVENNA, BOLOGNA, CESENA, RIMINI, SAN MARINO.

HOW TO REACH "FATTORIA PARADISO"
From Rimini: 5 km from Cesena, past the only hill on the Via Emilia, at Capocolle, take the first turning on the left (Via Nuova).

From Forlì: past Forlimpopoli, after the only traffic light, take the first turning on the right (Via Nuova). After about 1 km,the second road on your left takes you to the Fattoria.

For more information and pictures of the guest farm, visit our website www.fattoriaparadiso.com