Valpolicella Wine Road

The "Valley of several cellars", being a strict interpretation of the name Valpolicella, extends from the Lessini Mountains up to Soave, and its calcareous soil is perfect for making exceptional quality red Valpolicella wines. The real landmark of the Valpolicella Wine Road are the five centres of the classic DOC area, but there are numerous diversions through medieval hamlets, to see villas and vineyards that spread from the plain to the terraced hills. Sant'Ambrogio di Valpolicella has some of the most successful vineyards in the area, and in the hillside hamlet of Garganego you will find Villa Sarego-Alighieri, a lovely complex of buildings from different periods, which still belongs today to the heirs of the great poet. San Pietro in Cariano is a very ancient town, which flourished under the Scaligeri dynasty. There are numerous noble residences there, including Villa Santa Sofia which was designed by Andrea Palladio but unfortunately never finished. There are also some lovely homes dotted among the vines of the small town of Fumane. The fascinating stone village of Molina and the nearby Waterfall Park are well worth visiting, some of the loveliest sites in the Valpolicella area. There is some lovely renaissance architecture in Marano di Valpolicella and Negrar, a large municipal area between the hills and mountains which includes several villages in the Negrar Valley.