Casa di Giuliana is a wonderful three-story country house of stone set on a wine estate with a cluster of inhabited farm buildings and a villa set around the original courtyard. The house is on the outskirts of a tiny village of several hundred people — Bure, San Pietro in Cariano, just west of Verona — where you can walk 500 meters for your morning coffee or to pick up groceries. All around you are the rolling hills and valleys of the Valpolicella, cherished for its rural beauty, its superior wines, and its proximity to remarkable cities like Verona (15 min.), Vicenza (40 min.) and Venice (1.5 hrs.), not to mention the lovely Lake of Garda (30 min.).

Verona is famous, of course, as home to Romeo and Juliet, but also for its ancient arena, where the sounds of opera fill the air on summer nights. This is a region strikingly rich in both culture and agriculture, conveniently located equidistant to Bologna, Venice and Milan. There are many possibilities for excursions in the area, including visits to the renowned villas of the Veneto (the former house of a son of Dante is just 500 m. away) or to nearby Trento, Mantova, Padua and the castle-town of Soave.

Casa di Giuliana has been restored (from half of a huge tobacco drying barn) with great care and taste, perfectly balancing antique and more modern elements. The barn is divided in half and another family owns the other half, but they are seldom there (and if they should be, the plantings and walls are located to afford privacy for both parts of the building). The top floor of the house is air-conditioned for added comfort on the rare summer nights when it may be desired.

On the main floor is a spacious living/dining room with a welcoming fireplace. Sliding glass doors lead to the kitchen, which is fully equipped, including microwave and dishwasher, and a utility room with clothes washer. The kitchen opens onto a large terrace, perfect for outdoor dining, with a beautiful view over the roof tops to the village and the valley beyond.

On the second floor are two large queen bedrooms, each with its own en suite bath and with a sofa bed that opens into two single beds suitable for two children.

On the third floor, which is air-conditioned, there is an even larger twin-bedded room, illuminated by a skylight and offering views on three sides. Another queen-bedded room and a cozy twin bedroom are located on this level. The top floor is located under the eaves of the house and has sloping ceilings. Therefore, it is best for children or adults who are not too tall. A spacious bathroom is shared by these three bedrooms. All of the bathrooms in the house have both tub and shower.

The house is equipped with a stereo system, telephone, computer with DSL connection and fax capabilities.

A swimming pool (4 x 10 x 1.4 meters), built in the style of Northern Italian village fountains and washing areas, features massive cut stones of "Piedra di Verona" from the nearby Lessinean mountains. The depth is sufficient for swimming as well as fun and games. A large (1000+ sq. ft.) landscaped patio area leads from the house to the pool with surrounding gardens.

The friendly, knowledgeable owner occupies a separate apartment on the property. With her degree in modern languages from the University of Florence, she speaks excellent English. In addition to welcoming you to the property and the area, she is available to help you when she is in residence. She is professionally experienced translating, guiding and cooking services and is happy to work directly with guests to plan the most interesting holiday possible. Guided wine tastings at a local cantina with a knowledgeable translator can be arranged, as well as babysitting and maid services.