The secret to the Apennines

With this year marking 15 years since I started at Inntravel, I got to thinking about not only all the places I’ve been lucky enough to visit during that time, but also the wonderful people I’ve had the pleasure to meet who help make our holidays what they are. Linda, Irene, and Carmen jumped to mind straight away.

Their small, family-run hotels have been a part of Inntravel’s Secret Apennine Mountains holiday for nearly 30 years now (almost double my time at the company!) and they are beloved members of the Inntravel community – for good reason.

The holiday begins with a stay in the lovely spa town of Porretta Terme, before heading up into the hills for two nights at each of their hotels, nestled in this undiscovered little pocket of Italy. As soon as you arrive, you know you’re somewhere special. It’s like taking a step back from everything – an opportunity to disconnect from the busy world beyond the forested slopes, to slow down and savour your surroundings.

Linda, Irene, and Carmen (and their families and friends) are so welcoming and dedicated; hospitality runs deep in these mountains. They understand the needs of the customers who come to walk these paths, offering advice on local conditions and making additional recommendations. They even meet up every few months to hone their menus so Inntravellers can experience a range of local dishes over their week in the Apennines (more on this later!). They take every care, and it shows in the feedback we’ve received from the many hundreds of customers who have enjoyed this holiday over the years. People like Linda, Irene, and Carmen are not just the secret to the Apennines, but also to Inntravel holidays, as we strive to find small hotels that are local, traditional, and unique, with staff who go the extra mile.

To set the scene…

In a crenellated pattern of verdant valleys and rugged peaks that reach steadfastly towards the sky, the magnificent Apennine Mountains trace almost the entire length of mainland Italy, inspiring and impressing any wanderers that find themselves in their presence. Linda, Irene, and Carmen’s hotels are all based in the beautiful Alto Appennino Bolognese region of the mountain range, situated between Florence and Bologna.

Meet the hoteliers

Linda, Hotel Il Fondaccio

For about 10 years now, I have been running our small family hotel, the same one that for many years was my father’s domain. He was the first to start collaborating with Inntravel back in the late 1990s, opening the doors of our home to hikers from all over the world. Today, I carry on this path with the same spirit, trying every day to honour what he built.

Every guest walks through our door as a stranger but often leaves as a friend. I deeply believe in the kind of hospitality that comes from the pleasure of meeting new people and listening to their travel stories. After dinner, I enjoy sitting with them, exchanging impressions, and offering advice on hiking routes, weather conditions, or the most scenic detours. And when, in the morning, I see them set off again with their backpacks and a smile, I’m reminded that this job is more than a profession – it is a tradition.
Irene, Antica Locanda Alpina

The Locanda has been in the Gentilini family for over 120 years. Today, I represent the fourth generation at the helm of this establishment, supported by my husband Marco, my mother Marina, and my son Francesco, who is already growing up breathing in the life of the Locanda.

Our strength has always been a family-style welcome: a simple, genuine, and sincere way of making guests feel at home. Our cuisine follows the same spirit, essential yet refined, based on authentic, local products that reflect our region. The atmosphere is that of a little fairy tale – nature, tranquillity, and a precious break from everyday life.
Carmen and Stefano, Hotel Montegrande

We are Carmen and Stefano, and we’ve been managing the Montegrande hotel since 2020, but have been working here since 2004, so we have seen many Inntravel customers pass by. Our hotel is family-run. We started our management in the middle of the pandemic, but we persisted precisely because we believe in our work, and we always want to try to improve and give our guests an unforgettable holiday.

Inntravel's clientele are really special – they love the familiarity and simplicity in the things we do, and it’s nice to chat to them and hear their points of view. We try to take care of every detail and hope that our guests recognise this.

Hotel life in the Apennines

Linda (Hotel Il Fondaccio) has shared a few words about hospitality here – and they paint a very warm and welcoming picture:

‘There are places you don’t simply visit – you inhabit them. The Apennines are one of these places. Here, among forests that shift their colours with each season and paths that intertwine like ancient tales, hospitality wears the gentle face of familiarity. It is the quiet secret shared by the innkeepers who work with Inntravel: the desire to make every guest feel sheltered, cared for, at peace – as if they had always belonged here.

Since the late 1990s, much has changed; hotels have been renewed and services have evolved to meet the ways of modern travellers. Yet the devotion, the care, the quiet passion – these remain unchanged. It is this continuity, joined with a heartfelt welcome, that has woven a lasting bond with those who come here.

The Apennines are not just a place to discover. They are a home you find again and again – a little more each time.

A culinary collaboration
Linda, Irene, and Carmen put so much care and thought into the experience of Inntravellers and their other guests that they even coordinate the food they serve…

‘The organisation of us hoteliers of Italy’s Secret Apennine Mountains was born from the desire to offer our guests an authentic experience that brings together nature, hiking, and food-and-wine traditions. Our land boasts renowned local specialities such as Parmigiano Reggiano, local meats, vegetables, and chestnuts – products that embody the true soul of the area. We carefully select ingredients exclusively from local suppliers and strictly follow the rhythm of the seasons, so that every dish tells the story of a specific moment of the year.

Every few months we meet to design new menus together, creating proposals that turn dinner into a real journey of discovery. Our goal is to offer a gastronomic experience that is always varied and never repetitive, crafting dishes that showcase the seasonal ingredients at their best.

Throughout the entire hosting season, we remain in constant contact with each other, so we can promptly respond to specific requests and needs, including dietary ones. This continuous collaboration allows us to offer personalised hospitality, transforming each stay into a memorable experience.’

And some of Linda’s top local sights to see:

• Lake Scaffaiolo – a high-altitude mirror of water that has stirred the imagination of travellers and scholars since medieval times.

• The Dardagna waterfalls – seven cascading leaps where the river carves its way through ancient rock, telling a millennia-old tale of water, mountain, and motion.

• Monteacuto delle Alpi – a medieval hamlet balanced on a ridge between the Silla and Baricello streams, offering sweeping views.

• Places of deep spiritual resonance include the Sanctuary of Madonna dell’Acero, founded in the 1200s after the Virgin is said to have appeared to two shepherds, and the Sanctuary of Madonna del Faggio, built in the 1700s and embraced by a magnificent beech forest.

Meet and stay with Linda, Irene, and Carmen yourself by visiting Italy’s Secret Apennine Mountains >

What Inntravellers say

‘The accommodation and food were superb; four tasty courses every evening. And lovely touches throughout, like our really knowledgeable hosts being able to reroute us for one of the days to avoid the storm or, in one location, being able to choose what we wanted in our picnics.’
– Inntraveller, September 2025

‘Each hotel had its own bonus; the Hotel Il Fondaccio has a lovely pool and garden area, the Antica Locanda Alpina has wonderful food and picnics, the Hotel Montegrande also serves lovely food, and without exception we received a warm welcome in all of them.’
– Mrs Parish, September 2024

‘Absolutely fabulous walking in this region, the hotels Il Fondaccio, Locanda Alpina, and Montegrande all having individual charm, very warm welcomes and wonderful meals!’
– Inntraveller, June 2024

The secret to the Apennines: a warm welcome

Meet the hoteliers

Linda, Hotel Il Fondaccio

Irene, Antica Locanda Alpina

Carmen and Stefano, Hotel Montegrande

What Inntravellers say

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