Just imagine drifting off to sleep in one of the most beautiful Venetian stately homes and waking up to see the incredible countryside views all around, featuring Italianate gardens, historic parks, vineyards and rolling hills. Dream of walking through great halls and corridors full of frescoes bathed in the warm morning light as you head down to a breakfast made from locally sourced seasonal produce.
You can then continue your morning by talking a walk in the peaceful surroundings of the Dolomites or the Euganean Hills, or visiting another of Venice’s stunning country houses, taking a tour with the property’s owners to learn about the culture and traditions of the region.
Or indeed you can relax in the spa and outdoor spaces and then enjoy the chance to taste local wines and products in the historic wine cellars of these houses.
Welcome to Venetian Villas, Castles and Stately Homes: a network of owners of the Veneto Region’s historic villas, castles, palaces and stately homes who have chosen to open their properties to the public, introducing visitors to their wonderful houses, and of course the Land of Venice, through relaxation, tasting and wellness experiences.
The Land of Venice is dotted with many historic stately homes which, depending on when they were built, vary from proper castles, palaces within towns or villages or elegant villas, some of which were designed by the great Andrea Palladio, perhaps the most famous exponent of Italian Renaissance architecture.
The official name “Venetian Villas” is no coincidence: a Venetian Villa is a historic noble residence built between the end of the 15th century and the start of the 1800s by the aristocracy of the Venetian Republic on the “Mainland Domains”, the land which La Serenissima had conquered in the Venetian hinterland.
A wellness journey in the Land of Venice, exploring Villas, Castles and Stately Homes, means savouring the beauty of a land which is unlike any other in the world, enjoying some of Italy’s finest food and drink and soaking up centuries of fascinating history.
In the Dolomites and at Lake Garda, in Valpolicella and the Prosecco Hills, in the Po Delta and the Euganean Hills, with Venetian Villas, Castles and Stately Homes you can discover this region through its countryside, with independent or guided tours, cultural events and outdoor activities. And there is more: you can stay in many of these historic properties, immersing yourself in these incredible landscapes, some of which are UNESCO-listed, and enjoying the views of the wonderful scenery from your bedroom window.
In the Land of Venice, you can always count on the quality of its food and drink. Indeed, this region is a land of outstanding produce, particularly its wines, and some of these are still produced in our historic Villas, Castles and Stately Homes. Venetian Villas were originally set up as “factories of the land”, places where grapes would be grown to produce and sell wine. Some of these houses have continued their wine production to the present day and welcome visitors for tastings of their own wines and other local produce. These include Prosecco, Soave, Amarone della Valpolicella, reds from the Euganean Hills and Bardolino, served up with Venetian biscuits, jams, fruit, butter, and seasonal produce.
Another thing you can count on in the Land of Venice is plenty of important history, which is reflected in the Villas, Castles and Stately Homes. In fact, this region has seen some of our country’s most formative moments. These include La Serenissima, the seafaring republic with its capital in Venice which, over its 1,100 years of history, was one of European greatest commercial and naval powers, becoming a centre for economic, cultural, linguistic, and culinary exchanges. Our houses are dotted right across the Veneto region, offering ideal bases for exploring the region’s cities of art, from Venice to Verona, from Padua to Treviso and Vicenza.
Whatever your idea of “well-being”, from body to mind, from taste to views, Venetian Villas, Castles and Stately Homes are here to satisfy it.
You can choose the length of your tour and contact us for help to plan it together:
