At a Glance
An hour north of Venice, this 28-room palazzo resort offers laid-back charm surrounded by gardens.
Indagare Loves
- The magical gardens, filled with flowers, pomegranate and peach trees—and eating breakfast al fresco overlooking them
- The infinity pool that overlooks the Veneto region, where prosecco comes from
- The beautiful, understated rooms with hand-painted tiles in the bathrooms
Review
The Hotel Villa Cipriani in its current form dates back to the 18th-century, and was owned for a period of time by English poet Robert Browning. But it wasn’t until the Guinness family purchased it in 1962 and hired Giuseppe Cipriani—inventor of the bellini and then-owner of the Hotel Cipriani on Venice’s Giudecca Island—to transform it into a hotel. Many of his touches remain, and like the Cipriani in Venice, the gardens are absolutely magical, filled with pomegranate trees and an enormous peach tree (for bellinis, of course). Everything cascades down to an infinity pool overlooking the Veneto region, where prosecco comes from.
Rooms can be a great value, especially in the shoulder seasons and compared to the astronomical rates on the Amalfi Coast and other parts of Italy. The keys to the rooms are heavy; you leave them with the front desk before exploring. Though modest and without frills, the room was charming, filled with furniture you might have inherited from a relative, like cozy floral armchairs and wood dressers with gold keyholes. There was no iPad operating the lights—just switches to flick on and off. (How retro, and simple.) The beautiful, hand-painted tiles in the bathroom are a highlight. And open windows revealed panoramic views of the valley, vineyards and villas of Asolo. Each of the 28 rooms is different, ranging from smaller classics to the Grand Terrace Junior Suite.
Many guests dress up for a multi-course dinner in the main restaurant, though you can also order a la carte in the American Bar. In the morning, there is a charming breakfast buffet where you can take your plate outside and inhale the fragrance of the gardens.
Written by Annie Fitzsimmons
