Santa Sofia

Santa Sofia is the only villa designed by Andrea Palladio in Verona. Although only a small portion was completed, it is one of the most original works of the great Renaissance architect.
The side buildings of the villa house the production facilities of the winery. The wine is aged in the cellars of the old monastery that existed before the Palladian villa.

In the past, during the visit of the winery, before the tasting, it was possible to enter the garden from where it is possible to enjoy a splendid frontal view of the villa.
Since some years this is no longer possible. From a window of the tasting room annexed to the store it is still possible to catch a glimpse of the façade.

Villa Serego

Il nome dell'edificio è in realtà Villa Serego, dal nome del committente conte Marcantonio Serego. Nella proprietà sorgeva originariamente un monastero con chiesa dedicata a Santa Sofia, il cui nome è rimasto per definire la località. Il conte Serego era inoltre proprietario di Villa Serego-Alighieri, un'altra delle ville dove si produce ancora il vino in Valpolicella.

Villa Serego is definitely the most original of all of Palladio's villas. It lacks the monumental facade typical of the works of the great Renaissance architect. It lacks the typical harmonious alternation of the fullness of the walls with the voids of the colonnades and arches, replaced by the preponderance of voids of the double order of pillars. The smooth finish of the light-colored materials is missing, replaced by the rough rustic ashlar in yellow tuff.
According to the project reported in the "Quattro Libri dell'Architettura", Villa Serego was supposed to be a reinterpretation of a Roman domus. A large internal courtyard (atrium) surrounded by a portico supported by columns (peristilium) from which one could access the internal rooms.

Santa Sofia Cellar

The barchessa (rustic building) that stands to the left of what has now become the façade of Villa Serego, houses the Santa Sofia winery, a historic winery that produces classic wines from Valpolicella, the Veronese territory and innovative IGT wines.
The barrel cellars where the wine is aged are located in the ancient undergrounds of the medieval monastery, with its fascinating stone vaults.
. The wine is matured in containers of various sizes, French oak barriques (225 l / 60 gal), tonneaux (600 l / 158 gal) and large, classic Slavonian oak casks (2,500 liters / 660 gal and more), which give the wine the perfect balance. Much attention is paid to bottle aging so that Santa Sofia wines are ready at the moment of release.

The wine shop annexed to the winery is open for purchases.
Guided tours to the winery and tasting of a wide selection of wines in the list are available upon reservation. From the room of the wine shop it is possible to catch a beautiful view of Villa Serego.

Villa Santa Sofia is about 20' drive from the center of Verona.
Villa Santa Sofia direct phone number: +39 045 770 1074.

Veronissima's enological guides will be glad to include a visit to Santa Sofia winery annexed to Palladian Villa Serego in an itinerary with tasting to discover Valpolicella's historical buildings and wineries.