Corte Spinata is part of a UNESCO Man and Biosphere reserve called “PO GRANDE”.
Corte Spinata is in an area of beautiful countryside as well as historic importance. Traces of the past are all around us.
Corte Spinata is located on the Po river cycle path and between two villages:
Italy’s longest river, the Po, was once called the “king of rivers” by Virgil (“fluviorum rex”)
The poet Guido Ceronetti once wrote: “You need to understand the Po river, to understand Italy.”
The river was, for millennia, a vital transport hub, part of the trade route for Baltic amber in the bronze age. There are many fascinating archaeological finds from the Bronze age (12th century BC) in the area, don’t miss the museum in Fratta Polesine.
Corte Spinata is perfectly positioned to cater to the needs of travelers, ensuring convenient access and a relaxing break in the journey. In essence, like the Roman “stations” , Corte Spinata aims to enhance the travel experience, providing essential services and a sense of comfort for those on the move.
The term “stationes” in ancient Rome referred to a system of military and civilian posts strategically located along the major roads of the Roman Empire. These “stations” played a crucial role in maintaining communication, facilitating trade, and ensuring the security of the vast Roman territories. Typically positioned a day’s march apart, these stations served as resting points for travelers, messengers, and military personnel.
Corte Spinata, much like Roman “stations”, serves as a strategic point for travelers, exploring the cultural wealth of Northern Italy. We aim to provide comfort and tranquility to our guests to rest and refresh during their journey. While Roman “stations” facilitated communication through the imperial postal system, Corte Spinata is also a communication hub offering services like Wi-Fi so travelers can stay connected and manage their affairs while on the road.
Corte Spinata holds significant historical importance as it intersects with two crucial Roman roads: the Via Claudia Augusta (connecting Modena, Ostiglia, Verona, Bolzano, Augsburg, and Donauwörth) passing near Ostiglia, and the Via Postumia (linking Genova, Cremona, Villafranca Veronese, Verona, all the way to Aquileia) connecting the seas from West to East.
In Roman times the area was governed by an important city, Hostilia. Pliny the Elder in his 'Naturalis Historia' describes what excellent beekeepers the people of Melara were, and in fact, the name of the village comes from 'mel', Latin for 'honey' and 'ara' for 'altar' (Pliny the Elder, 'Naturalis Historia' XXI)
The “Court”, in our local area, was where several families related to each other, lived together. They cultivated the surrounding land and raised animals.
At the end of the 19th century and the beginning of the 20th century this agrarian community produced and used what they needed, the extended families helping and supporting each other. Within the Court they had everything they needed : the well, the oven, the stables, the chicken coops and even a devotional chapel.
The name SPINATA was already present in the Carafa land register of 1779 and was owned by the Bianchini family, who had lived here since the seventeenth century.
At the beginning of the 20th century, the Bianchini house passed to the Ridolfi family as a dowry.
In 2012, we bought it, renovated it with love and care, built the apartments and started welcoming guests.