The Bianconi family story began in Cortina d’Ampezzo, within the walls of a restaurant. There, grandmother Ada—a true Romagnola with her trusty wooden rolling pin—would make fresh pasta every morning while her daughter Donata welcomed guests in the dining room. The restaurant quickly earned praise and began attracting food lovers.
The turning point came when Donata met Walter Bianconi, a chef from Treviso with a long and distinguished career, honored with numerous accolades. His cuisine was refined, though never elitist—a style that blended haute gastronomy with familiar, authentic flavors. Donata herself was a sommelier and natural hostess, with the spirit of hospitality in her blood from a young age. Together, they led the restaurant to its golden years in the 1980s. Their 22 years of stewardship earned them the coveted Michelin Star. Their daughter Carolina was born and raised among those tables, absorbing the art of dining and service from her earliest years.
Soon after came a new challenge, a leap into the unknown—a bold venture called Villa Rota.
In the 1990s, with a touch of madness and a great deal of courage, Donata and Walter purchased Villa Rota—a noble 17th-century residence, once the country estate of the Counts Pasolini Dall’Onda, surrounded by a vast park in Piangipane, in the Ravenna countryside.
Here, they envisioned creating a business centered on weddings and events, both on-site and off-site. Their ambition was to “fill a gap” in the restaurant world: a catering service able to deliver the same quality as a fine dining restaurant.
For Donata, this great shared project was also a chance to return to her homeland. In December 1994, the very first wedding was held at Villa Rota, but they also continued to manage their restaurant in Cortina until the early 2000s. It was only in 2002 that Donata and Walter left Cortina d’Ampezzo, the jewel of the Dolomites, to settle permanently in Ravenna and devote themselves heart and soul to this new venture.
Walter took the helm of the kitchen, while Donata took charge of managing the villa. Together, they began to bring their dream to life. After years of studying abroad, their daughter Carolina also returned home, taking on the role of marketing director and wedding planner.
It wasn’t long before their bold gamble paid off, and today, more than thirty years later, Villa Rota continues its journey, always evolving toward the future of hospitality and dining.
A young and motivated team, in both the kitchen and the dining room—professionals who treat this work as a true vocation.
Chefs, maîtres d’hôtel, servers, and sommeliers driven by passion for their craft—people who combine professionalism with genuine enjoyment in what they do.
At Villa Rota, every guest becomes part of the family, and that is our greatest added value.
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