Romantik Hotel Villa Margherita

During the 16th and 17th centuries it was fashionable for wealthy Venetian nobles to build palatial retreats along the cool banks of the River Brenta, and so the waterway became lined with sensational villas all the way from Venice to Padua. Today villages and commerce have built up in the area, but many of the mansions still survive. Some mansions are now open as museums, but for those who really want to experience living the noble life, there is the lovely 16th-century Villa Margherita, an elegant small hotel. It is situated across the highway from the canal, just a short stroll from one of the villa museums and a short drive from the other highlights of Veneto. Many converted villas in Italy are beautiful but faded, reflecting genteel neglect: not so with the Villa Margherita where all is beautifully maintained and no detail overlooked. From the front veranda and sitting rooms with their elegant antiques and period paintings to the guestrooms with rich, color-coordinated fabrics, each detail shows the care and involvement of the owners, Remigio and Valeria Dal Corso who actually grew up here. Remigio is a renown chef and demonstrates his skills at his own popular restaurant in a villa across the street. Far from the hubbub of Venice, yet only a 20-minute drive (or bus ride) away, the Villa Margherita is an excellent hotel choice for those who prefer to come home to a good regional meal, kind hospitality, and a quiet and refined ambiance.

In an idyllic bend in the River Brenta, just 15 km from Venice, lies "Villa Margherita", a building from the 17th century, filled with delightful statues, set in a centuries old park and surrounded by the most magnificent houses built by the architect Palladio. Frescoes and valuable fabrics further enhance the charming atmosphere. In an equally enchanting building, the adjoining Restaurant Margherita specialises in fish delicacies.