Le Cesarine: discovering Bolognese cuisine in traditional homes, Art Hotel Commercianti

Le Cesarine: discovering Bolognese cuisine in traditional homes

There are many ways to get to know Bologna: strolling beneath its porticoes, getting lost in the streets of the historic center, admiring Piazza Maggiore, or making the climb up to San Luca. But there is an even more intimate way to connect with the city’s soul: sitting down at the table and letting Bologna tell its story through its flavors.

It is precisely from this idea that “Le Cesarine” was born - Italy’s oldest network of home cooks, established in Bologna in 2004. It is a community that opens the doors of private homes to travelers and food lovers, turning a lunch, dinner, or cooking class into an opportunity to meet people, discover family recipes, and gain a deeper understanding of Italian culinary culture.

Since 2019, Le Cesarine have also been recognized as a Slow Food “Widespread Community”, with the aim of helping to safeguard Italy’s culinary heritage and the knowledge passed down through generations in home kitchens.

And what better city than Bologna to have an experience like this?

By staying at Art Hotel Commercianti - our boutique hotel in the center of Bologna, just steps from Piazza Maggiore - you can set out to discover the city and its traditions, even getting to know the more authentic side of Bologna that lies hidden behind the doors of private homes.

The origins of Le Cesarine

The Cesarine project originated in Bologna in 2004 with a simple idea: to showcase and safeguard Italy’s gastronomic heritage and to preserve recipes that are often not found in books but are passed down within families.

The name “Cesarine” pays tribute to the women of Italy’s domestic tradition - those grandmothers, aunts, and homemakers who, for generations, have jealously guarded the secrets of handmade pasta dough, a slowly simmered ragù, and recipes that are not necessarily found in books but live on in a family’s memory.

Today, that tradition has evolved into a genuine community, bringing together over 1.500 active members across numerous Italian destinations. The “Cesarine” welcome guests into their own homes, sharing with them not only the food they prepare but also stories, memories, and anecdotes linked to the local area.

It is a different way of traveling, one that allows you to get to know a place through the people who live there every day. Staying at the Art Hotel Commercianti offers the chance to enjoy an authentic experience with the “Cesarine” while being just steps away from Bologna’s most iconic and historic landmarks - from Piazza Maggiore and the Basilica of San Petronio to the streets of the historic center and the Two Towers.

The pasta sheet: a uniquely Bolognese ritual

Bologna is a city that has made dining one of its defining characteristics; here, fresh pasta is not merely a food, but a true art form. Tagliatelle, tortellini, tortelloni, lasagna, and ragù are dishes known the world over, yet their most authentic history lives on in the kitchens of Bolognese families. It is precisely this everyday heritage that the Cesarine allows you to discover - and wish to preserve.

Stepping into a Cesarina’s home means going beyond the traditional restaurant experience; it means sitting at a table set in a home environment, listening to stories and anecdotes, watching the dishes being prepared, and - in many cases - taking an active part in their creation.

Fresh pasta is naturally one of the stars of the show. In Bologna, you can take part in experiences where you learn to make pasta dough from scratch - using just flour and eggs - and transform it into tagliatelle, tortelloni, ravioli, or other traditional specialties. Some classes also cover the preparation of Bolognese ragù and desserts like tiramisù, culminating in a shared meal where you can savor the dishes you have created. For a visitor, watching the process and recreating it alongside seasoned experts means taking home more than just a recipe: it means taking home a small piece of Bolognese culture.

After a morning spent kneading and rolling out pasta dough, you can return to the Art Hotel Commercianti to relax in our modern, luxurious rooms before continuing your exploration of the city. For those wishing to immediately put into practice the skills learned during the experience with the Cesarine, our luxury apartments (Art Studio Apartments and Luxury Apartments) are the ideal choice: located in the heart of Bologna, they offer the freedom to experience the city independently and provide a private kitchen where you can experiment with and recreate the recipes you have just learned.

From the home kitchen to the table

The experiences offered by Cesarine go beyond frash pasta classes. Guests can take part in lunches and dinners in private homes, as well as tastings and culinary journeys focused on local products. Every gathering shares a common feature: the table becomes a meeting point for people and cultures.

For those arriving in Bologna from another city or abroad, this is an opportunity to experience the destination from a different perspective - not merely through monuments and museums, but through conversation, a family recipe, or a dish prepared together. It is also the best way to realize that Bolognese cuisine is about more than just the famous dishes that have made the city renowned worldwide. Behind the tortellini, taglatelle, and lasagna lies an everyday reality of markets, small shops, family lunches, and Sundays spent gathered around the table.

Bologna, where the food is part of the city

In Bologna, the relationship with food is an integral part of daily life. A short walk from the Art Hotel Commercianti towards the Quadrilatero leads to some of the streets most deeply connected to the city’s culinary traditions. Among historic shops, purveyors of local specialties, and eateries, the city center tells a story through aromas and flavors. Shop windows display fresh pasta, cured meats, and cheeses; local and visitors mingle in the establishments; and people pause in the streets for an aperitif or to buy something to take home.

It is precisely this connection between the city and the table that makes the Cesarine experience so compelling. After discovering recipes in a private home, you can continue your culinary journey by returning to the city center streets and exploring the places where tradition lives on every day.

Le Cesarine and the art of living in Bologna

Visiting Bologna means admiring its squares, strolling beneath its porticoes, and letting yourself be captivated by the beauty of the historic center. But it also means sitting down to a meal and discovering a side of the city not found in guidebooks.

Le Cesarine embody precisely this: a way to connect with the most authentic side of Bologna - a world of family recipes, handmade pasta, beautifully set tables, and stories shared over a freshly prepared meal. After all, some travel memories are born in front of a monument or during a stroll beneath the porticoes; others are created in the kitchen, with flour-dusted hands, the aroma of ragù in the air, and a table ready to be shared.

To experience Bologna in all its facets, choose Art Hotel Commercianti, a historic boutique hotel in the heart of the city, just steps away from Piazza Maggiore and the Basilica of San Petronio. It offers a prime location for discovering Bologna’s most iconic landmarks, immersing yourself in its history, and delighting in its culinary traditions.

Book your stay at the Art Hotel Commercianti and treat yourself to a unique experience in the heart of Bologna, among history, culture, and autheinic flavors.