Villa Pisani Bolonesi Scalabrin is, by the standards of its larger brother at Dolo, an unassuming palace set on the plain just outside of Este. However, it is the most glorious of places, with a garden to die for and frescos in every room. This is the stuff of fairy tales and dreams.
As I sat listening to the current owner tell me about her predecessor Evelyn and how she had rebuilt the garden from almost nothing, I was overwhelmed by the sense that magic truly is around every corner in Italy. What you see here is a small sheltered corner with the last of the afternoon sun pouring through a gap between the buildings. This is a little taster of what hopefully will become a glorious summer painting the vision of two remarkable women.