OF WONDER, WATER AND WINE

Wade through the divine delights of land and water on this full-day grape and lake escape from Verona. Guests will enjoy tasting fine red wines and venture onto a noble family’s private island.

Meet your driver at your accommodation in Verona and relax on the ride to Valpolicella. The Latin etymology Val polis cellae, meaning “the valley with many cellars”, attests to Valpolicella’s ancient viticultural tradition. Extending for 240 square kilometres across the foothills of the Lessini mountains, between Verona and Lake Garda, this is one of Italy’s most prestigious wine-producing regions. Wine enthusiasts will have the opportunity to visit a renowned estate, located in an enchanting setting on the grounds of a Renaissance villa. Built at the request of humanist and landowner Giulio Della Torre in 1560, the mansion perfectly fulfilled its functions as a working farm, from which to supervise the estate’s agricultural activities, and a peaceful luxury retreat, where the owner and his privileged guests could come to meditate, relax and idle the summers away. Accompanied by a member of staff, you will explore this truly marvellous country house and learn all about the history and refined symbolism behind its construction. Highlights include the central courtyard, blending references to the design of an ancient Roman domus with a typically Mannerist taste, the hall of mirrors, decorated with original medallion portraits of poets of antiquity, and the awe-inspiring zoomorphic fireplaces featuring a lion, a sea monster and a devil. After the tour, sit down inside the mansion’s dining room to be served a delicious lunch paired with Valpolicella wines, including the local source of pride: Amarone.

Later, set off for the vibrant lakeside resort of Lazise. Make your way through the town’s maze of pedestrian alleys lined with quaint shops and cafes, pausing to admire the medieval Scaliger Castle, and reach the harbour. Here your skipper will be waiting ready to take you on a 30-minute boat ride to a privately owned island dominated by an elegant palazzo, still the home of an aristocratic family. Hop aboard and set sail for Isola del Garda. As you glide along the rippling waters, revel in the sights of deep green slopes and the pastel-hued towns that pepper the lake’s shoreline.

Upon arrival, a member of the family will welcome you to this true corner of heaven. One hundred and thirty Gallic-Roman tombstones unearthed here attest to the island’s use as a burial ground in ancient Roman times. In its long history, Isola del Garda served as a hideout for pirates, a game reserve, a hermitage, a Franciscan monastery, a school of philosophy and theology and, finally, a splendid residential mansion. Today, the gorgeous Neogothic-Venetian style villa, built between 1890 and 1903, is inhabited by Lady Charlotte Cavazza, three of her seven children and their families, descendants of the Roman Borghese dynasty. Since 2001 the owners have opened portions of the island to the public with the aim of sharing a slice of their compelling family history and way of life with visitors. Your host will show you around the family chapel, two of the villa’s rooms and the magnificently landscaped gardens blooming with fruit trees, roses, bougainvillea and an array of exotic flowers and plants. Before cruising back to Lazise enjoy a refreshing aperitivo on a terrace overlooking the lake… raise a glass to the island!

Your private chauffeur will be waiting at the parking area ready to drive you back to Verona after an unforgettable day out.