2021-08 Valpolicella

Hello my dears,

I´m confident that you followed my advice and got some bottles of Valpolicella,
because that was the region, where Maria Nelly and me spent a truely wonderful week.
With the following pictures and impressions I want to share this experience with you.
So open the first bottle, fill one glass and let the wine breathe for about one hour ….
then you are ready to enjoy both the wine and the pictures.

R & MN

Passing by in Villach, just to report to the Authority about the vacation plan in Italy

walking through down-town Villach with Maria Nelly and Marion ( at the backsinde of the photograper )

on the way to the hotel "Golden Lamb" in Villach

Sunday 29th of August, on the highway in Italy, 50 km south-west from Villach

Quick coffee and pee-stop two hours from Verona

for the US-slow-drivers : these are the visual effects driving above 120 mph ;-)

Approaching Castelrotto ( broken castle) from the south

strange clouds reminding me of my sins

plaza café at Casterotto

on the way down to "Villa Giona" , looking back to Casterotto church at the hill-top

photo taken by a native

looking back from Villa Giona to Casterotto ( finally arrived... ready for a beer )

We are here !

We are here !

Hermes, Zeus´ messenger, the statue, as you see it, is at least 20 years old, maybe less ;-)

refreshement at Villa Giona

Wine bar at Villa Giona tower

Villa Giona, built around 1550 A.C.

angles everywhere

our suite, not bad, isn´t it

Terrace over the entrance, directly accessible from our suite

looking down from the terrace

the pool within the vinyard

Refreshment at the bar

desert after the first dinner in the garden

Villa Giona at night

the garden at night, from the terrace

Suite Nr. 3

that´s what I saw when I opened my eyes the next day morning, gruesome

and, looking up.

the garden, before breakfast

looking through the side window

Loggia superiore in the morning

pond at the backyard

pond at the backyard

Villa Giona

wine bar, in the morning out of order

on the way to the parking lot ( unsupervised )

Vinyard near Villa Giona

walking up to San Giorgio, view west to lake Garda

walking up to San Giorgio, view west to lake Garda

typical italian house, walking up to San Giorgio

from the wall allone you could say: this is not in Austria

almost up at San Giorgio Church

parrochial house

patio with austrian tourist

patio with austrian tourist

The proof : Robert was here

San Giorgio

iron melt labatory ( 2500 years ago )

iron melt labatory ( 2500 years ago )

Valley from San Giorgio

super slim stone columns , please, don´t toss

the austrian tourist, once again

inside San Giorgio

inside San Giorgio

inside San Giorgio

San Giorgio ( Saint Georgeous )

at the foot of San Giorgio hill

shot with my glorious new, super-wide-angle lens

Piazza near San Giorgio

Murano church with campanile

Our Lady of the Blue Eyes

Murano, Inside the church

traditional houses nearby

Campanile ( clocktower ) with cloud

looking down at the planelands of Verona

Village with olive plantations

almost lost in the Vinyard of the Lord

without four-wheel-traction we wouldn´t have made it out

Vinyard near Negrar

Vinyard near Negrar

Looking down to the plaza from Negrar church

St. Martin ( we were told,.. I´m not quite sure )

Plaza in Negrar

Negrar church inside

at home...Dinner table reserved for us

at this dinner we tried Valpolicella "Amarone" which is beyond Superiore ... ( 16% alc :-)

Dinner, Steak with colored stones ( not really )

after dinner I convinced MN to walk up to Castelrotto in total darkness, saying ´Fear not Mary, the gun in my holster is loaded´

but we asked Our Lady for additional protection

almost there !

Plaza at Castelrotto at 11 pm

Castrum Wine-Bistro

looking back to the plaza

Nightview of Villa Giona from Castelrotto hill

Last view at the Castelrotto church

after the adventure we both needed a strong sedative

Villa Giona in all her magnificence

Next morning : War memorial at Castelrotto

Olives and Wine, simply beautiful

Al Calice, Dalla Cucina ( into the glass, from the kitchen )

no clients, they´re all still sleeping

probably the mayor´s house

Castelrotto church "San Ulderico" , inside

looking back to Castelrotto hill

25 km further west, Lazise, near the south end of lake Garda

parrochial house next to Lazise church

MN at Lazise with Valpolicella background

further north at Garda ( Town ), at the quay

Looks really like the sea

Ferry ready to dump all the german tourists

Garda

the engine was far too weak, so we declined to rent it

after a nice lunch we made walk through the town

downtown Garda

Garda lakeview

Garda lakeview

Garda lakeview

Garda lakeview

Little harbour in front of Hotel Gardesana

looking north

all german pirates, I´m sure

Lake´s end ( from there about 50 km to Tyrol, Austria )

it looks as though the world would be still sane

Ristorante Pizzería Paradiso de Robertino..... unfortunately far too expensive

another dramatic sky

Cemetary at the lake

Cemetary at the lake

back at Villa Giona , historic chicken-roast device at Villa Giona

Anna, the good fairy of Villa Giona

Anna, showing us the library of the owner

original Frescos in Villa Giona ( ca. 1700 )

original Frescos in Villa Giona ( ca. 1700 )

before dinner

next morning looking through the back window

Let´s visit Verona !

no words here required

Garibaldi bridge and San Giorgio church

down-town Verona

down-town Verona

down-town Verona

Piazza die Arena

construction site... I felt inmediately comfortable

Security fence with images from Arena-presentations, from the present back to 1925 !

Nice job fellow civil-engineers : invisible stabilising THAT wall !

Entrance for lions and christians

Entrance for the nobles and hooligans

Arena di Verona, infested with curious tourist

San Fermo, altar at the lower church

San Fermo, vaulted ceiling at the lower church

San Fermo, altar the lower church

San Fermo - upper church, information about the ceiling

San Fermo, altar with ceiling

San Fermo, frescos on the back side ( 14th Century )

looking back to the main entrance

looking up to the ceiling in the side aisle

full view back

after a nice lunch passsing by the Arena

porta grandissima

some shots, while MN is buying "the latest craze" clothing for the little prince of Vienna

see comment before

once again, the Arena

Piazza Erbe

affordable appartments in downtown Verona

some facade

Corso Sant Anastasia

Delikatessen ( vegans not welcome )

Saint Anastasia church ( built 1290-1481 )

Saint Anastasia church

Saint Anastasia church, rear view

some ceiling

no words required

holy water stoup, slightly bizarre

Entrance to Saint Anastasia

Garibald bridge and the Dome of Verona

back home again

due to good weather the dinnertables are outside

Last morningview through back window

Vinyard outside the Villa

Early stage of Valpolicella classico superiore

the boy ( 63 ) still waiting for the Signora

last glimpse of the beautiful interior of Villa Giona

Villa Giona seen from the back entrance

Good bye Villa Giona, we will be back !

Good bye Villa Giona, we will be back !

Last Photo - short stop on the way to Villach, Tagliamento River