Aristocratic vineyards, historical residences, wavy panoramas that embrace the horizon, colonial villages where time has stopped and Atlantic beaches with infinite profiles. Virginia is a kaleidoscope of emotions where the history of America comes to life in a context of refined beauty
by Elena Barassi
A nickname, Old Dominionwhich evokes the deep roots of a land that was the first British colony of the new world and which maintains, intact, that pride of having been the cradle of the American nation. Virginia relaxes majestic between the corrugated Blue Ridge Mountains and the waters of the Atlantic Ocean, creating a mosaic of landscapes ranging from hills dotted with vineyards and golden beaches kissed by ocean waves. Land of presidents – eight, including Washington, Jefferson, Madison – this state retains a timeless elegance, impersonated by its historical estates and colonial architectures that embellish a territory where American history has moved its first, decisive steps.
Loudoun County It is the refined essence of the Virginian countryside, a succession of green hills embellished with vineyards of excellence and historical residences. A few kilometers from Washington’s frenzy, this county represents the perfect balance between rural opulence and cosmopolitan charm. There Dodona Manorresidence of General George C. Marshall, an enlightened mind behind the plan that would have reconstructed Europe after the Second World War, stands with discreet elegance, testimony of an era in which the fate of the western world was shaped from these lands. Located in Leesburg, it was the residence of General George Catlett Marshall from 1941 until his death in 1959 and is today a museum that preserves over 90% of the original furnishings and memorabilia belonging to the Marshall, offering visitors an authentic look at the life of the general and his wife.
Loudon County’s landscape is dominated by prestigious cellars such as the Stone Tower Winerywhose vineyards are placed on 95 acres of panoramic hills, offering wines that we rival the best French burgundy. Here the art of viticulture, edited with passion by pioneers like Doug Fabbioli of Fabbioli Cellarsfound fertile ground to express American wine excellence. Placed on the banks of the majestic Potomac river, the Lansdowne Resort It is an icon of Virginian hospitality. An immense seal that evokes the sober classicism of the great estates of the American East Coast, merging colonial suggestions with contemporary touches. With its golf courses designed by Robert Trent Jones Jr. and Greg Norman, who wind through a landscape dotted with centuries -old oaks and slight wavy waves, the spa that uses local ingredients for exclusive treatments and the Coton & Rye restaurant which pays homage to the agricultural tradition of the region, represents a discreet luxury refuge immersed in 476 acres of an uncontaminated nature.
Set in the hills, Middleburg It is the sanctuary of the equestrian aristocracy of the eastern coast. Its cobbled streets, flanked by refined boutiques and art tunnels, lead to coffee with a European atmosphere as Common Grounds, where the aroma of fine mixtures merges with the scent of local gastronomic proposals. The village, a favorite refuge of Washington’s elite, maintains that aura of discreet exclusivity that made it famous in the lounges of the American high society and is renowned as the national capital of the horse and hunting. Here, in fact, fox hunt has deep roots that date back to 1840, the year in which the Piedmont Fox Hounds was founded, the oldest fox hunting club in the United States.
TO Williamsburg Time seems to have stopped, crystallized at a precise moment in American history. An open -air museum that represents the apotheosis of the colonial style, with its paved roads crossed by figures in vintage clothes that recall the daily life of the eighteenth century. The buildings, restored with meticulous attention to detail, and the artisan shops bring the visitor back to the dawn of the nation. At suits the evening, the light of the lanterns creates a surreal atmosphere to the Williamsburg Lodge, where contemporary design merges with the elegance of the past, while to King’s Arms Tavern The diners are transported to an era in which independence was discussed in front of dishes of the colonial tradition, served by waiters in eighteenth -century clothes. Not far away, Jamestown It houses the very foundations of American civilization. Here, in 1607, a group of brave English adventurers established the first permanent settlement in the new world, starting the American chapter of western history. The ruins of the original settlement, excavated with archaeological care, narrate the complex relationship between European settlers and the Powhatan tribe, in a dialogue between cultures that would have defined the very character of the future nation.
More east, Virginia Beach It represents the maritime soul of the state, with its contemporary urban profile that stands out against the background of the infinite Atlantic horizon. The long expanse of golden sand is the perfect stage to admire the sun that rises from the ocean waters, while the Vibe Creative District It pulsates creative energy with its murals and art galleries that testify to the contemporary vocation of this coastal city. Above all, the Virginia Moca On Parks Avenue stands out for its exhibitions of contemporary art of international caliber, hosting emerging and established artists in a building whose architecture is itself a work of art. Not far away, the 21st Street Art Galerie presents a well -kept selection of works by local artists who capture the maritime essence of the region, while the The artist’s gallery On Laskin Road offers a collective exhibition space where over 30 regional artists expose their creations in an intimate and welcoming environment. Not far from the coast, the Military Aviation Museum It houses one of the most important private collections of historical military aircraft still able to fly. Within Hangar who recreate the atmosphere of the aerial bases of the Second World War, you can admire Spitfire, Mustang and other iconic aircraft up close, who have written pages of history, while the rhombus of their engines returns to awaken the Virginian skies during the performances that are periodically held in the skies above Punto. For an exclusive experience, the Cavalier Hotelwho hosted ten presidents and celebrities of the caliber of Frank Sinatra and Elizabeth Taylor, represents the pinnacle of the coastal elegance, with its imposing profile that dominates the Oceanfront and the Becca restaurant, where local ingredients are transformed into refined gastronomic creations. A few miles from the coast, the sea offers an extraordinary natural show with dolphins that dance between the waves and whales that migrate along the Atlantic currents. Info Virginia