NOT TO BE MISSED:

- Masks of the fireplaces inside the villa

- One of the jewels of the 16th century in Italy

- Home of the prestigious Allegrini wine cellar

During your trip to Valpolicella, on an itinerary that takes in good wine, culture and nature, you cannot miss a visit to the magnificent Villa della Torre, near Fumane.

It is a true jewel of 16th century Italy, set amidst the green hillsides cultivated with vineyards.

Allow yourself to be captivated by the mysterious and evocative atmosphere of the villa, an ancient country residence built for the farm's agricultural activities, but above all conceived as a place for peace of body and soul, according to the canons set by the Latin writers, so loved by the Humanists.

Then let yourself be inebriated by the sweet scent of the wine coming out of the wineries and the flowers in spring, the season when Valpolicella shows itself in all its splendour.

Known as el palasso (the palace) by the inhabitants of Fumane, Villa della Torre was completed in all its parts around 1560, commissioned by Giulio della Torre, an intellectual and humanist with strong social, political and religious connections.

The date of construction, however, remains uncertain, as does its designer, who was certainly inspired by the greatest architects of the time, including Giulio Romano, Michele Sanmicheli and Bartolomeo Ridolfi.

It is not excluded that Della Torre also contributed to the design of the villa.

The closed architectural scheme is reminiscent of the ancient Latin domus: everything develops around the 'heart' of the house, the peristyle.

The villa was conceived to combine architecture and nature, as witnessed by the monster-mouthed fireplaces that adorn the rooms, the ironic masks that bring the immense force of fire into the rooms, the grotto carved out between two flights of stairs leading to the garden, the fishpond and the fountains with spectacular water features.

The uniqueness and splendour of this villa are now the centre of prestigious events, hosted by the renowned Allegrini winery.