A place where time seems to stand still
If you are traveling to Italy from another continent, you may not know that Lombardy has much to offer. Tourists generally have heard of Rome, Milan, Florence, Naples, and Venice- cities that are undoubtedly splendid and picturesque- but authentic Italy is not found in the metropolises, rather in provincial towns and small villages. Cremona is the city that gave birth to the greatest violin makers in the world: Stradivari, Amati, and Guarneri del Gesù. At the Violin Museum, visitors can admire five centuries of Cremonese violin making and listen, in the auditorium, to the sound of these precious instruments.
Lo Stagno is an ancient courtyard on the banks of the River Po, near Cremona, surrounded by shimmering ponds, scattered farmhouses, dense poplar groves and broadleaf woods, signs of a soothing natural environment about eighty kilometers from Milan, a city that is anything but relaxing, immersed as it is in its own intense work rhythms.
In this place, seemingly suspended in time, lies the agriturismo Lo Stagno, located within the Cascina Gerre del Pesce, a complex of remarkable architectural value founded by the Benedictine monks of Nonantola in the 15th century. Paola Gerevini, the owner, inherited this gem from her parents and transformed it into an ideal retreat for those seeking peace and contact with nature.
Guests stay in the rooms of the manor house, the villa, and two independent apartments. The rooms are furnished with original antique furniture and painted in the warm colors of autumn leaves. The restoration of this ancient family home has been carried out with great care and attention to every detail.
There are no telephones or televisions, but large tables around which guests can share moments and emotions, illuminated—when the weather is cold—by the crackling flames of the beautiful fireplaces found in almost every room. It is an agriturismo particularly suited to nature lovers, families with children, those in search of peace, and those wishing to visit the most beautiful cities of Lombardy and Emilia-Romagna.
Lo Stagno does not offer on-site dining, as the owner prefers to recommend the many local trattorias. Lombardy has the highest number of Michelin-starred restaurants in Italy, but true Italian cuisine, recognized by UNESCO just a few days ago, is not that of star chefs, but that of traditional osterias.
Lo Stagno is very close to the Food Valley, famous for Parmigiano cheese, prosciutto, salami, and tortellini. In the guestbook of the property, a message left by a guest perfectly captures the spirit of the place: “This house radiates love, sensitivity, and good taste, and one can breathe a magical, timeless atmosphere.”
