In the heart of Valpolicella Classica, among the most famous Italian wine regions, on top of the highest hill in the village of Castelrotto, is located Villa Fraccaroli, one of the oldest houses in the area that came back to life with the opening of Castrum Relais.
Casa Fraccaroli is a jewel of classical Italian architecture from the 18th century, which is distinguished by its majestic panoramic terrace from where you can admire at a glance the entire valley and the mountain peaks of Lessinia.
Castrum means Castle because we are in Castelrotto, a small town built on the top of Valpolicella and the birthplace of the famous sculptor Innocenzo Fraccaroli, born in 1805 in Villa Fraccaroli, the headquarters of our Wine Relais.
The complex borders the Castle area, a space that is currently closed to the public but which we hope to see soon return to life as a location for cultural events.
Today Castrum Relais covers an area of 10,000 square meters and offers 6 rooms and 6 suites 6 suites obtained from the 18th century Villa that hosts us, one of the most evocative terraces in Valpolicella, a winery with wines of our production, Wine Bar & Bistrò and a small olive grove.
The Fraccaroli family was the first to settle in this territory, building the villa with the same name at the end of the 18th century. The descendants of the family proudly kept the name Casa Fraccaroli to honor Innocenzo Fraccaroli, an internationally renowned sculptor known as “Canova of Verona” who was born in this villa.
Awarded the first prize at the Brera Academy in Milan for his first works, the sculptor Fraccaroli is known worldwide for his works inspired by the Greek mythology and which in turn inspired the style of our suites and the labels of our wines.
In the church of Castelrotto, the village where Castrum is located, are still preserved the plaster models of Justitia and Misericordia (Justice and Mercy) whose portions “larger than the true ones” are found in the dome of Bergamo in the Redentore chapel.
Today Castrum Relais is the result of an important cultural and artistic legacy left to us by the sculptor Innocenzo Fraccaroli and which we, those of the Borghetti family, evoke again in spaces and show in our communication starting from the logo to the labels on the wine bottles. This is how we transform our wine production into a kind of alternative art gallery in homage to Canova from Verona.
Paolo Borghetti, the father of the current owner Giampiero, started producing wines in Valpolicella in 1980 using the classic winemaking method, also imprinting his personal note. Today, Castrum Relais hosts the Giampiero Borghetti winery where guests can immerse themselves in the art of Valpolicella Classico wine and that of the sculptor Fraccaroli.
