Villa Cordevigo Wine Relais ★★★★★

The long driveway bordered by tall and imposing cypress trees looming overhead and closing in from both sides feels like a portal to another world. When you emerge at the other end, you realise it was exactly that! This is the world of the Villa Cordevigo Wine Relais: a world of beautiful countryside and nature, with sprawling vineyards and gnarled olive trees; a world of unimaginable flavours, with a restaurant serving up delectable cuisine and home-produced wines; a world where history meets luxury, where time seems to stand still, where everything is shrouded in a romantic and peaceful silence. Surrounded by so much uninterrupted green space, you feel like you could be anywhere. In fact, you are not: you are just 10 minutes away from Lake Garda, whose vast waters are encircled by quaint resorts and mighty mountains, and not much further from Verona, a World Heritage City with ancient Roman ruins and plenty of soul.

The Villa Cordevigo is an ancient estate and manor house which was born from the ruins of a Renaissance palace in the 1700s, owned by various wealthy and noble local families throughout its fascinating history. It is made up of three main buildings sitting around the edges of an elegant courtyard with a French-style garden, all of which ooze a sense of history and tradition. None more so than the pretty, pastel-pink chapel in the corner, which conceals an incredible collection of over 3000 saints’ relics within its 15th century walls.

The Ristorante Oseleta is rightly a starred restaurant it conjures up some simply incredible creations, where you can savour incredible Venetian flavours. You can also choose the perfect wine from the exceptional wine list – featuring bottles produced in the estate’s own vineyard – to partner your meal. While away the hours lying beside the swimming pool against the gorgeous back drop of the trees and vineyards. Alternatively, head indoors to the spa, a calming and comforting cocoon of relaxation where you can find a gym, Finnish sauna, infra-red sauna, Turkish bath, hydromassage tub, sensory showers, and an extensive range of treatments.

If you want to do something ever so slightly more strenuous, hire a bike and head down to Lake Garda, allowing yourself to fall under the intoxicating effect of the enchanting scenery and admire the jaw-dropping scale of the lakes and mountains. Or, for the ultimate way to experience the dramatic landscapes, go hiking around the top of Monte Baldo, gazing down from the heavens at the lake glittering in the sunlight far below on one side, and the awe-inspiring sight of the snow-capped Alps piercing the clouds on the other. Between the unforgettable views from these lofty heights and the endless expanses of green around the Villa Cordevigo, it’s easy to see why this area had Romeo and Juliet feeling like such hopeless romantics!