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 HISTORY OF THE VILLA
The Villa was constructed in 1460 as a country retreat for noble families. In the first half of the 16th century, it became property of the Gonzaga family. It also began hosting the small but sophisticated court of a Venetian noble woman, whose husband was the scion of the Mantuan ducal family. For the next 400 years the villa was a hub of artistic and cultural activity. Fresco cycles inside the main hall testify to this era of efflorescence: throngs of satires and cupids, tall lions, and chimeras lead from one room to the next. The real gem of the house is the salon, where critics and historians can admire frescoes by the school of Giulio Romano, the famous Mantuan painter. Using a continuous interplay of perspective and trompe l'oeil, the artist succeeded in adding an imaginary loggia to the room, where one can find statues (one of which is dedicated to Julius Caesar), columns, and decorations in faux marble. 
DESCRIPTION OF THE VILLA
The Villa is ideally situated between Mantua (18 km) and Verona (25 km). Lake Garda is just a few minutes' drive away (35km). Only a few years ago, it was transformed into a warm and charming hotel. Proprietors Adriana and her children Simone and Lara cultivate the Villa's family atmosphere. Art lovers have plenty of reasons to choose this property and same do gourmets: the dishes are strongly influenced by Mantuan culinary traditions, often making ample use of the famous Vialone Nano variety of rice, which is grown in the fields surrounding the Villa. The RESTAURANT is personally overseen by Adriana, who regales guests with sumptuous dishes made from local ingredients (rice, chicken, savory vegetables), along with an array of desserts. The china and silverware are from Deruta, and decorated with the same motifs found in the restaurant's wall frescoes. When good weather permits, breakfast, lunch, and dinner are served on the PORCH. Built in the 1800s, the porch is surrounded by curtains that soften the wind and sunlight. On display in the restaurant are a number of rare and interesting farming tools used at the villa over the course of its 500-year history. The SWIMMING POOL is surrounded by an ample lawn and colorful flowerbeds. Beyond the villa lie roads and grounds that provide a perfect setting for relaxing walks and bicycle rides. The elegant guesthouse includes four double rooms : the FIREPLACE ROOM whose features are wooden beams, wall niches, decorations in terracotta, and other wonderfully preserved reminders of the past; the VIOLET ROOM where the mingling of violet and lace lends a warm, romantic ambiance to this intimate room; the GREEN ROOM with its bed, crafted in the rustic style typical of this area, with its wooden ceiling, terracotta floor, spacious carpets, and bedside tables (covered with the same fabric used for the bedcovers) emanates a classic simplicity. In the GRANDMA'S ROOM a large wooden bed combines with the curtains' delicate hues.
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