Villa Rizzardi-Giardino di Pojega

The Villa
In the heart of the Valpolicella Classica region, in Negrar di Valpolicella, stands Villa Rizzardi, an elegant noble residence surrounded by the famous Garden of Pojega, one of the finest examples of an 18th-century Italian garden. The villa, still owned by the Rizzardi family, represents a rare balance between architecture, nature and history, bearing witness to the taste and sensibility of an era. With its panoramic view of the valley, it preserves the historical memory of the family and today offers exclusive spaces for ceremonies, weddings, corporate events and cultural initiatives.

The Garden
Designed in 1783 by architect Luigi Trezza, the Garden of Pojega extends over five hectares along the slope that embraces the hill of Negrar. Conceived as a place of contemplation and leisure for the villa’s guests, the garden reflects the late Baroque and Neoclassical taste, reinterpreted with balance and moderation.

Scenic terraces, perspective avenues and geometric hedges alternate with more natural and shady spaces, in a continuous dialogue between order and spontaneity. Boxwood plants, shaped hornbeams, cypresses and centuries-old holm oaks guide the gaze towards green backdrops, statues and fountains that dot the path with theatrical elegance.

The heart of the garden is the famous Teatro di Verzura, a masterpiece of plant architecture where hornbeam walls and boxwood hedges define a veritable stage of greenery.

From the upper terraces, particularly from the Belvedere, the view opens up over Valpolicella, offering spectacular vistas that combine the geometry of the garden with the softness of the hilly landscape and surrounding vineyards.

The vineyards and winemaking tradition of Guerrieri Rizzardi
The Rizzardi family has been cultivating vines in Valpolicella for centuries, continuing a winemaking tradition that dates back to 1649. The estate’s vineyards and winery are located in the hills of Negrar di Valpolicella, where the calcareous soil and ideal exposure contribute to creating wines with an elegant and distinctive character.

The Guerrieri Rizzardi winery, based in Bardolino, brings together the family’s various historic estates located in the main wine-growing areas of Verona — Bardolino, Soave and Valpolicella — preserving a heritage of winemaking expertise and territorial authenticity.

At the end of the visit to the Giardino di Pojega, guests can enjoy a guided tasting experience in the charming 17th-century courtyard, which also houses the ticket office and wine shop. Here, you can discover the entire range of the estate’s production, from the reds of Valpolicella and Bardolino to the fragrant whites of Soave, as well as the special Selections and the delicate Garda Orientale DOP extra virgin olive oil, a symbol of hospitality that combines history, taste and landscape.

Activities
The Villa and Garden complex of Pojega is open to the public from spring to autumn, welcoming visitors and groups who wish to enjoy an experience of beauty, history and harmonious landscapes in the heart of the Veronese hills.

During the opening season, the Garden comes alive with a rich calendar of special events: the Giornate delle Ville Venete (Venetian Villa Days) and Appuntamento in Giardino (Garden Appointment), to name a few, but also readings and creative workshops for adults and children, yoga sessions and wellness days, as well as cultural and musical events that celebrate the dialogue between art, landscape and outdoor life.

An invitation to experience the Garden not only as a place to visit, but as a space to inhabit with the senses and the spirit.

Itineraries in the area
After visiting the Garden of Pojega, you can continue your discovery of the area with scenic and cultural itineraries that cross the Valpolicella and extend as far as Lessinia.

Recommended routes include the Valpolicella Wine Routes, which lead through villages, Romanesque churches and historic wineries, or the climb to San Giorgio di Valpolicella, an ancient stone village known for its parish church and views of Lake Garda.

Nature lovers can head up to the Lessinia Natural Park, a plateau of rare beauty where pastures, mountain huts and woods offer ideal trails for hiking, walking and gastronomic stops.

Among the most evocative stops are the Ponte di Veja, a majestic natural rock arch, the Molina Waterfall Park and the mountain dairies of Erbezzo and Fosse, where you can taste cheeses and typical products.