The region of Friuli Venezia Giulia is situated in the northeastern corner of Italy on the border with Veneto in an area said to be second only to Tuscany in its production of famous Italian wines. Nestled in the countryside of Friuli, with its glorious views, Villa Manin stands on the outskirts of Palmanova, an ancient fortified town, which is today classified as a national monument. It is also nearby Clauiano, which has been recently classified as one the 100 most beautiful villages in Italy.

This stately villa was built in 1664 by the noble Venetian Manin family as a vacation residence during the grain-harvesting season. The impressive structure, situated at the center of a 2½ acre garden, is that of a scaled down urban Venetian palace. Access to the main salon is by a graceful frontal staircase from the garden. This salon has frescoes on all walls and is surrounded by four rooms including the owner's stateroom, which was once the music room as is evident by its frescoes. In the east wing are 3 double rooms and two bathrooms.

"The current owners love this residence a great deal, this shows in the patient restoration efforts which have returned lost luster to the residence and the true passion with which they attempt to re-create its history kindling an aura of warmth and hospitality which pervades its rooms" - Antiquariato Magazine, March 2001. The villa has also been published in many other prestigious magazines all over Europe.

Main House
Ground Floor
· Large and impressive drawing room with beautiful frescoes on all walls, a beamed ceiling,
  Venetian coccio pesto floors and a grand piano. Lovely glass doors open to a terrace with
  a table and chairs seating 6.
· Dining room with an antique table seating 10-12, a very large ancient sideboard, a stove and
  two big drawings on one wall
· Large beamed rustic kitchen with a table seating 6 and a big fireplace. Wooden double
  doors open into both the dining room and the entrance hall.
· Library with a small cast iron fireplace
· Master bedroom with frescoed walls, a beamed ceiling with an ancient Murano glass
  chandelier, an extra king-size bed draped in mosquito netting, a sofa, which could be a third
  comfortable bed, and satellite TV. It shares the first floor bathroom, a very short walk away.
  Wooden double doors open to both the entrance hall and the library.

Lower Floor
· Cellar (once the kitchen) with a vaulted ceiling, a big fireplace and a wooden table and
  chairs seating 8

East Wing
Ground Floor
· Entrance hall
· Bedroom with a king-size bed with mosquito netting, beamed ceiling and a fireplace. There
  is also room for a child’s bed.
· Private bathroom with shower and washing machine
· Outdoor dining terrace under a grape vine pergola

First Floor (only a few steps up from the Main House Ground Floor)
· Bedroom with twin beds, each with mosquito netting and a ceiling fan
· Bedroom with twin beds, each with mosquito netting and a ceiling fan
· Bathroom with a tub located between the above bedrooms and shared also by the master
  bedroom

Amenities
Satellite TV, stereo, telephone, mosquito netting over beds, dishwasher, Whirlpool fridge with ice maker, washing machine, iron and ironing board, garden furniture, sun umbrellas and a barbecue

Staff
Full time houseman who looks after the house and the garden. In addition to cleaning the house (dusting, floors, windows etc.), each morning he opens all the windows in the main house and brings out the garden furniture cushions and umbrellas. In the evenings he does the reverse or if it rains during the day.

Services Available at an Additional Cost
Cook or catering. The houseman (€ 12 per hour) is also available for cooking simple things, setting and clearing the table, washing dishes, washing and ironing, making beds and cleaning bathrooms.

Notes
· A swimming pool is being built and will be ready by summer 2005
· The houseman lives on the third floor in the main house and has a bedroom and bath. He
  does use the kitchen but not when guests are. He is totally unobtrusive, very polite and
  around only when needed.

Distances
Venice Airport: 50 minutes by car and the Trieste-Udine-Gorizia Airport: 15 minutes by car. The Collio and Colli Orientali del Friuli districts with their castles, abbeys, famous vineyards and "oenogastronomic" itineraries are 10 kms.; Aquileia with its basilica and famous archaeological sites and Udine, the regional capital with its beautiful historical center are both 15 kms; the Cividale del Friuli, an ancient Longobard town surrounded by the valleys of Natisone is 18 kms.; The Lagoon of Marano with its charming "Casoni" (fishermen's houses) is 20 kms., Grado with its lovely beach and thermal resorts is 25 kms.; Trieste with its scenic coastline is 30 kms.; Lignano with its long beaches and amusements is 40 kms.; The Dolomites of Carnia with its untouched Alpine meadows and peaks is 50 kms. and spectacular Venice is 90 kms. The border with Slovenia is only 18 km. away and the peninsula of Istria in Croatia, with its fabulous coastline is 40 km. away. Boats can be rented in main beach towns like Lignano and Grado.