Travel along the white road through the vineyards of Valpolicella, at the entrance of the Novare Valley in Verona: suddenly, you become enchanted by the breathtaking grandeur of Villa Mosconi Bertani. Its beauty is a symbol of an ancient history, to be rediscovered together before crossing the gates that lead to its magnificence.
It all began in the 16th century when Giacomo Fattori started the construction of a representative villa, next to the pre-existing 16th-century cellar and on a residential core dating back to the same historical period. However, he ran out of money, and the merchant, who hoped to gain entry into high society with his countryside villa, had to sell it to the Mosconi Counts, who completed it in 1779, with the architecture still visible today. The property then passed to the Trezza di Musella family in 1868, who primarily dedicated it to wine production, modernizing vineyards and cellar.
The barrels were entrusted to the Negrar Social Winery. In 1936, according to legend, the Amarone wine was born right here, a wine that later became famous worldwide. The story continues with its acquisition in 1957 by the Bertani family, historic winemakers from Verona, who made it their center of representation and production of Valpolicella Classica wines. In 2012, it passed into the hands of Gaetano Bertani, becoming the headquarters of Tenuta Santa Maria, a wine brand now run by his sons, Giovanni and Guglielmo Bertani.
And now the time has come to discover this architectural gem that has preserved its splendor over time, immersing ourselves in this place where time seems to have stood still.
The neoclassical white facade showcases a tympanum adorned with statues from Greco-Roman mythology, standing with their whiteness against the lush greenery of the surrounding vegetation. The majestic building consists of a central body, with a slightly advanced block in the middle compared to the lateral sides, characterized by different orders: Doric with entablature on the ground floor, Ionic on a pedestal on the upper floors. This is the main villa, which expands with two perpendicular wings that served to conceal the view of the rural buildings and the cellar, separating the residential part from the productive one.
The eastern wing includes the chapel of San Gaetano, flanked by a small bell tower, while a facade in the same style appears to the west. The front garden, with a large circular flowerbed and a gushing fountain, is dominated by the grand statues of Apollo and Hercules. On the left, we enter the historic cellars arranged on three levels. Let’s visit the monumental barrel cellar and the fruit drying room, where the grapes are left to wither using the traditional method, on bamboo cane racks.
And behind the villa, a surprise awaits: behold the secret garden, an idyllic romantic park with a small lake and an islet housing a tea room, accessible via a wooden footbridge. What a fairytale place! It was the poet Ippolito Pindemonte, who frequented the literary salon of Countess Mosconi, along with other cultural figures of the time, who suggested creating this contemplative spot.
Due to its historical and environmental value, the park of Villa Mosconi Bertani is listed among the Great Italian Gardens. The extensive walled area located behind the villa not only encloses the garden but also encompasses a vast vineyard, giving the entire landscape complex the qualities of a garden-countryside blend.
We cannot leave without having stepped inside the villa to admire the Hall of the Muses. In the painted niches on the walls, statues representing the Muses are enclosed, while the fresco on the ceiling depicts the four seasons, with Flora (the protector of vineyards and fruit trees) taking center stage. Another gem of Italian beauty to visit and marvel at.