Villa Abbazia
N. Italy: Veneto: Follina
With its perfect position on the Prosecco Route, near the picturesque towns of Asolo and Treviso, the medieval town known as "Little Venice" because of its many canals, Villa Abbazia is a charming and sophisticated inn with views of rolling foothills and mountain peaks. Two of Palladio's most famous villas are also closeby - Villa Maser and Villa Emo. The nearby town of Vittorio Veneto was used as the setting for the 1996 film "In Love and War" with Sandra Bullock and Chris O'Donnell, directed by the great Sir Richard Attenborough. The cast stayed at Villa Abbazia for five weeks. Owned by the Zanon family, Villa Abbazia is actually two buildings - the 17th century villa, housing the majority of rooms, and the Liberty Villa that dates to the late 1800's and contains four beautiful suites. The spacious guestrooms are the creation of Ivana Zanon, and each is a confection, totally different from the other. They feature rich, contemporary colors and many personal touches, with handsome tiled baths, mini-bars and satellite television. The lobby has a second tier that is home to the "breakfast room" featuring beautiful table settings and a buffet breakfast that includes homemade cakes and tarts. Behind the lobby is an attractive café serving coffee, tea, lunch and sweets. The hotel's romantic restaurant La Corte opens onto the villa's private garden and serves excellent cuisine in a tranquil setting. The hotel also has a lovely gift shop that again reflects the talent of Ivana. Bicycles are available for the use of guests in exploring the countryside. For shoppers, there are opportunities to purchase high quality products such as cashmere, wool, and silk directly from the producers. Open year round.