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for the glowing review! "Go ask Alice ... where all the best vineyard gardens are. She's an erudite charmer; you'll have fun!"
Italy

Villa Arvedi: Perfection in an Italian Landscape Garden

Villa Arvedi Parterre Detail Photo © Alice Joyce

Departing Venice on a June morning, we drove on to Verona Province to take in the serene beauty of Villa Arvedi. An opportunity had presented to tour with the elegant, dignified Signora who resides at the Villa. It is an understatement to say the renowned formal Italian landscape captured my heart and imagination. From the magnificent frescos adorning the interiors to perfect layout of the parterres, memories of Villa Arvedi will remain with me forever.

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Italy

Valsanzibio .. A Baroque Dream

Valsanzibio Rainbow Fountain Putto Photo © Alice Joyce

My Italian sojourn took advantage of the accommodating guidance and transport provided by ‘The Other Side of Venice – Veneto Tours,’ with Miriam at the helm. We departed Venice early one morning for a day trip to the beautiful countryside of the Veneto, southwest of Padova. The destination: a dream-like Baroque masterpiece, VALSANZIBIO, with a magnificent landscape that can be traced back to 1669 and the Venetian aristocrat, Zuane Francesco Barbarigo – the breathtaking layout created by none other than the Vatican architect, Bernini.

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Botanical Gardens

André Heller Botanic Garden: Lago di Garda

Haring Sculpture Andre Heller Garden Photo © Alice Joyce

Touring the towns and villages of Lago di Garda will fill your days and nights with wondrous views and vistas. I choose to stay in Bardolino, on the eastern side of the lake, traveling by bus, ferry, and foot path to explore Lake Garda’s delightful towns and villages. Gardone Riviera is one of the beautiful towns situated on the lake’s western edge. Here, you’ll discover the fascinating landscape of Giardino Botanico André Heller, where in decades past, Dr. Arthur Hruska nurtured a botanical setting featuring streams and sweet, small lakes to complement the rich plantings. In 1988 the multimedia artist André Heller became owner of the villa property, “protector and ally” in Heller’s words. Today, Fondazione André Heller oversees the lush gardens, boasting art installations and elements of surprise at every turn.

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