La Scuola is an old school from the ’20s turned into a maison d’hôtes that, with its cool retro atmosphere, will definitely tug at your heartstrings. Located in the tiny village of Lusiana, in the province of Vicenza, the “Bed & Brunch” was founded in 2013 following the dream of Valeria and Marco who, thanks to a passionate restoration, managed to keep intact the charm and features of the old structure, conserving the beautiful original tiles, wooden floor, doors & windows.

The interiors are decorated with wonderful details that take us back in time to a world made of wooden desks, colored chalks and starched aprons, while in the background the radio plays some cool music from the ’30s that wraps everything in a magical atmosphere. In the former classrooms, today we find the Alphabet Lounge where a giant chalkboard, decorated with typographical letters, mixes with old wooden tables, retro cupboards and contemporary industrial design objects.

Four of the rooms are inspired by different school subjects: Geography, History & Literature, Arithmetic and Sciences, whilst the fifth one, Maestra (Teacher), is a cozy loft where the teacher used to stay overnight when she was unable to return home. Each room is uniquely decorated with furniture and details that recall the vintage world of school sourced from antique markets, bought from private collectors or even donated by former students.

Breakfast is very rich and freshly homemade every morning; it includes croissants, muffins and cakes of the day, yogurt and organic jams, cured meat, and artisanal cheese selections.

Book the Aritmetica (Math) or the Scienze (Science) room if you are staying with your children (as they feature extra beds), or the naughty Maestra (Teacher) with a beautiful Belle Époque-style bathtub, just perfect for a romantic stay.

Ask Valeria for advice about nearby things to do and places to visit; upon request, she can prepare a picnic basket to take with you on your outdoor adventures, maybe to the near Asiago plateau, better known as Altopiano di Asiago or Altopiano dei Sette Comuni.

The Secret

Many of the objects that decorate the inn were donated by the many fellow villagers who studied in that school. You can see them in the old black and white photographs, hanging at the entrance, which depict the classrooms of the students who populated the school until the 1960s. Today those children have become the painter who decorated the stairs or the lady of the grocery store opposite where you buy milk… proud that their school continues to live and that it has become a destination for curious travelers from all over the world.

Useful Info

La Scuola Guesthouse
Via Campana 20
36046 Lusiana, Vicenza
Tel. +39 0424 066244

Rooms starting from about 80 euro