Villa Vendri, the jewel of Valpantena

Ca' Vendri, in Valpantena in Verona, is one of the most important Venetian villas of the sixteenth century. It was commissioned by the Giusti counts and executed by the school of Michele Sanmicheli with the collaboration of the painter Paolo Farinati, who created the fresco above the loggia. The villa follows the typical Renaissance structure: a courtyard with a portico of nine arches and a noble floor with large rooms arranged around the central hall. The park, classified as a national monument, extends over more than 6 hectares with an avenue of centuries-old cypresses, eighteenth-century statues, a nymphaeum, a family chapel, and fountains. It also offers golf courses, sports fields, and a 300-meter driving range. Inside, on the ground floor, there is a scenic pool carved out of an ancient cellar, a sauna, and a gym. The chapel dedicated to Saint Nicholas of Tolentino stands at the northernmost part of the park and dates back to a period before the villa. The villa is structured like the patrician residences of the Venetian Renaissance: the noble floor has four rooms on both sides of the central hall. Inside, it houses 30 bedrooms and 30 bathrooms. Today Ca' Vendri is highly sought after for events and meetings: the central hall of 180 square meters can accommodate up to 250 people, while the room on the upper floor hosts up to 120 guests. The loggia and portico are ideal for aperitifs and social moments.