I felt a bit like a princess.
My stay at Castello di Roncade was the happiest accident of the summer. When driving back from Venice to the coast, we needed a place to land. A quick Airbnb search placed us in the little town of Roncade. However, this was no ordinary Airbnb - we were staying in a castle.
The villa is surrounded by medieval walls dating back over 500 years ago. It was originally built for a wealthy Venitian family, however, the property has since changed hands. In the early 1900s, Baron Tito Ciani and his family moved into the residence and transformed the surrounding land into a winery. To this day, his family still lives in the villa, entertaining guests and carrying on the tradition of winemaking.
The place felt like our little secret. Unless you happened to be passing through Roncade, Italy (hint: you wouldn’t), you will miss it entirely. Inside the walls, the grounds transport you somewhere far away, despite being in the middle of town. The gardens are perfectly groomed and protected by statues of the original family’s most regarded soldiers. Towering trees shade guests from the summer sun, while they share a bottle of the castle’s wine. Perfect rows of grape vines invite visitors to take a stroll and bask in the sweet scent of the afternoon air.
You could even swear the staff stepped straight out of a film.
The Baron has been known to never miss a wine tasting, and to chat with guests for hours. Even our tour guide exuded passion for this place, and she told us of her hopelessly romantic Italian love story (the reason she is still in Roncade). The tour and tasting were quite educational as well, and we learned a great deal about the wine and its process. Fun fact: I learned it is impossible to bottle wine on a full moon. They say the wine comes ‘alive,’ and swells dramatically, leaving you with a half-empty bottle the next day.
We slept in one of the wall’s towers, and I will admit, I felt a bit like a princess. A spiral staircase led us to a giant room with brick walls and one of the highest ceilings I’d ever seen. Velvet red chairs and antique wood tables filled the space. Out the window, you could see the whole town below you.
Castello di Roncade was my personal reminder to be spontaneous. You might just find magic along the way.
This place was amazing and to this day is one of the best last minute plans we have ever made! Great job finding this one Ainsley! I would definitely go back again!