Ostello dei Balocchi

Balocchi Hostel and Donkey Farm!!!

Ostello dei Balocchi is situated in the ancient town of Casalino di Ligonchio, in the heart of Appennino Tosco-Emiliano National Park.
Once elementary school of the town of Casalino, the premises have been renovated and enlarged: they house today the Hostel, the first tourist accommodation structure in the higher part of the ridge combining the traditional mountain hospitality with the slow pace of the donkeys, animals that are historically linked to the territory, masters of life and inseparable assistants of man.

The Hostel

The Hostel offers a simple and top-quality accommodation service. Our guests can choose among different accommodation solutions:

• rooms with bunk beds
• double rooms for families (equipped also to welcome babies)
  
• single rooms
  

The rooms are all provided with en-suite bathroom with shower.
Further available services:
Internet connection, public phone box, fax and mail service, equipped barbecue areas, laundry service for longer stays.

Activities

Sustainable tourism and environmental education aiming at promoting a different man-environment relationship.
Rediscovering the Park territory, with its flora, wildlife, historical and cultural traditions, along an adventurous trail including didactic, recreational, and hiking activities like:

• night walks
• wildlife observation
  
• tracks recognition
• orienteering
• walks on the snow with snow rackets
• trekking with donkeys
  
• traditional lessons and trips
  

Donkey Farm

The aim of Balocchi Donkey Farm is to hand down to the new generations the knowledge of the donkey, a noble animal with a tender and gentle nature, which for generations has collaborated with man ensuring his survival and development when the roads did not cross our territory yet and tractors did not transport timber for the winter and tilled the fields in spring.

The tourist-didactic proposal of Ostello dei Balocchi focuses on these premises and aims at rediscovering these values with the help of donkeys and their nice presence.

We organize trekking and personalized tours lasting also more days for groups, schools, families, and individuals.
The animals will help us to carry all the necessary equipment and children will have the opportunity to rest a little bit by riding our donkeys along the trails of the Apennines.