Vicenza is a living monument to the world's most admired architect, Andrea Palladio. The city has many examples of his work including The Rotunda which inspired buildings as far apart as London and Delhi. Ten minutes away by car is Hotel Villa Michelangelo, a fine 18th century country mansion set in a great park of formal gardens, rolling hills and cypress trees. The accommodation emulates the Palladian elegance in grandeur and design.

Guests can savour the finest regional cuisine without even leaving the grounds; "La Loggia" is a match for the best in the Veneto but within the serenity of this pastoral idyll. The pool has a sliding roof to provide a year-round facility. But no stay would be complete without a visit to the jewels of the Veneto: Venice, Padua, Verona and, of course, Vicenza itself.

Golf Club Colli Berici, 18 holes that perfectly adapt to the Berici Hills scenery. The nice climate of this area, windy in summer, sunny in winter and the perfect drainage of the ground let you play all throughout the year.