8 Activities
The Most Beautiful Palladian Villas in Veneto
Starts from
Venice
Transportation
By Car
Guidance
Self-Guided
Activities
8
Duration
11 hrs 25 min
Length
88 mi
Guide details
Starts from
Venice
Transportation
By Car
Guidance
Self-Guided
Duration
11 hrs 25 min
Length
88 mi
- History and Culture
- Unusual Locations
Maria Grazia Piccirillo
Traveller
- Visit the Palladian villas.
- Travel along the Brenta riviera.
- Explore the UNESCO sites.
- Traces the step of the 16th century architecture.
This route is a delightful itinerary among some of the most important Palladian Villas in Veneto, located between the province of Vicenza and the Brenta riviera.
These beautiful mansions were built around the middle of the16th century by the architect Andrea Palladio for the local aristocratic families, and in the 90s they have been included in the UNESCO world heritage.
They were different from the Roman or Medicean villas, since they were not just a place of leisure for the lords, but firstly production facilities. In fact, they were surrounded by cultivated fields and vineyard, and had warehouses and depots for work.
In this trip, you will explore four of the 24 mansions that are the most famous: La Malcontenta, Villa Pisani, La Rotonda and Villa Contarini.
These beautiful mansions were built around the middle of the16th century by the architect Andrea Palladio for the local aristocratic families, and in the 90s they have been included in the UNESCO world heritage.
They were different from the Roman or Medicean villas, since they were not just a place of leisure for the lords, but firstly production facilities. In fact, they were surrounded by cultivated fields and vineyard, and had warehouses and depots for work.
In this trip, you will explore four of the 24 mansions that are the most famous: La Malcontenta, Villa Pisani, La Rotonda and Villa Contarini.
Categories
- History and Culture
- Unusual Locations
This route is a delightful itinerary among some of the most important Palladian Villas in Veneto, located between the province of Vicenza and the Brenta riviera.
These beautiful mansions were built around the middle of the16th century by the architect Andrea Palladio for the local aristocratic families, and in the 90s they have been included in the UNESCO world heritage.
They were different from the Roman or Medicean villas, since they were not just a place of leisure for the lords, but firstly production facilities. In fact, they were surrounded by cultivated fields and vineyard, and had warehouses and depots for work.
In this trip, you will explore four of the 24 mansions that are the most famous: La Malcontenta, Villa Pisani, La Rotonda and Villa Contarini.
These beautiful mansions were built around the middle of the16th century by the architect Andrea Palladio for the local aristocratic families, and in the 90s they have been included in the UNESCO world heritage.
They were different from the Roman or Medicean villas, since they were not just a place of leisure for the lords, but firstly production facilities. In fact, they were surrounded by cultivated fields and vineyard, and had warehouses and depots for work.
In this trip, you will explore four of the 24 mansions that are the most famous: La Malcontenta, Villa Pisani, La Rotonda and Villa Contarini.
Maria Grazia Piccirillo
Traveller
- Visit the Palladian villas.
- Travel along the Brenta riviera.
- Explore the UNESCO sites.
- Traces the step of the 16th century architecture.
Day Itinerary
8 Activities
Day 1
88 mi0.9 mi
Brenta Riviera and Vicenza: 16th Century Villas
The route on traces of the Palladian Villas of the 16th century starts from Venice, to reach the Brenta riviera and arriving in Vicenza, which hosts one of the most famous mansion.
The first stop of the itinerary is Malcontenta, a district near Mira in province of Venice, where there is the Villa Foscari, or so called The Malcontenta, property of the one of most richest families of Venice.
Before entering Vicenza, you will stop in Stra, where you will find Villa Pisani with its marvelous labyrinth, the gem of the riviera.
After Villa Pisani, the destination is Villa Almerico-Capra or also The Rotonda, and to finish the villas tour there is the one of the biggest, Villa Contarini in Piazzola sul Brenta.
The day trip will end with a nice walk alongside the Giare shore, where you will also have dinner before going back to Venice.
The first stop of the itinerary is Malcontenta, a district near Mira in province of Venice, where there is the Villa Foscari, or so called The Malcontenta, property of the one of most richest families of Venice.
Before entering Vicenza, you will stop in Stra, where you will find Villa Pisani with its marvelous labyrinth, the gem of the riviera.
After Villa Pisani, the destination is Villa Almerico-Capra or also The Rotonda, and to finish the villas tour there is the one of the biggest, Villa Contarini in Piazzola sul Brenta.
The day trip will end with a nice walk alongside the Giare shore, where you will also have dinner before going back to Venice.
09:451 hr
Villa Foscari
The route starts not so far from Venice, by visiting Villa Foscari, also known as La Malcontenta, that means discontent.
According to a legend was the nickname given to a dame of the Foscari house relegated within those walls because of her immoral attitude.
The villa was built in the 1559 on a project of the architect Andrea Palladio, for the brothers Nicolò and Alvise Foscari, members of most important and powerful family of the Venetian Republic.
You can check the site for information on guided tour, tickets and exceptional openings.
According to a legend was the nickname given to a dame of the Foscari house relegated within those walls because of her immoral attitude.
The villa was built in the 1559 on a project of the architect Andrea Palladio, for the brothers Nicolò and Alvise Foscari, members of most important and powerful family of the Venetian Republic.
You can check the site for information on guided tour, tickets and exceptional openings.
11.3 mi
25 min
11:105 min
Car Park
Before going to the villa in Stra leave your vehicle at this car park, as it is situated in a convenient place, where you will be able to have lunch further.
0.5 mi
10 min
11:351 hr
Villa Pisani National Museum
The next stop on the route is maybe of the major villa of Brenta riviera, in Stra, that is Villa Pisani.
It was built in the 1721on the shore of the river, hosting 168 rooms and covering a surface of 15,000 square meters.
Besides all the rooms, that were named according to the illustrious guest who was staying — for example, the most important is Napoleon. The villa is famous also for its Labyrinth, a complex structure of plants and bushes with a tower in the middle.
There was a loving and playful component in the construction of the labyrinth, since it was used as “playground”, in which the masked dame was hidden in the tower, and the knight had to go through the labyrinth to reach her and discover her identity.
It was built in the 1721on the shore of the river, hosting 168 rooms and covering a surface of 15,000 square meters.
Besides all the rooms, that were named according to the illustrious guest who was staying — for example, the most important is Napoleon. The villa is famous also for its Labyrinth, a complex structure of plants and bushes with a tower in the middle.
There was a loving and playful component in the construction of the labyrinth, since it was used as “playground”, in which the masked dame was hidden in the tower, and the knight had to go through the labyrinth to reach her and discover her identity.
0.4 mi
10 min
13:001 hr 30 min
Osteria del Baccalà Da Linda
To keep the Venetian history going, the stop for the lunch break is Osteria del Baccalà not so far from Villa Pisani.
This place is all about tradition and history, since the owner and chef Linda decided to carry on the family business with the original recipes of the Veneto region and local products.
This place is all about tradition and history, since the owner and chef Linda decided to carry on the family business with the original recipes of the Veneto region and local products.
26.8 mi
40 min
15:151 hr
Villa la Rotonda
Moving away from the shores of the Brenta, the itinerary will head you near Vicenza, where it is located La Rotonda, that is Villa Almerico Capra.
Built between the 1567 and 1605, this is one of the most important example of modern architecture by Andrea Palladio, with a round shape inspired to the Roman Pantheon.
The Villa-Temple, as suggest also the architecture of the façade, is a perfect mix between the functions of the rural villas of that period and the sacred dimension of a place of worship.
Today, it is the property of the Valmarana family, but it is possible to visit it Friday to Sunday from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. and from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m. during the months from March to December.
Built between the 1567 and 1605, this is one of the most important example of modern architecture by Andrea Palladio, with a round shape inspired to the Roman Pantheon.
The Villa-Temple, as suggest also the architecture of the façade, is a perfect mix between the functions of the rural villas of that period and the sacred dimension of a place of worship.
Today, it is the property of the Valmarana family, but it is possible to visit it Friday to Sunday from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. and from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m. during the months from March to December.
14.4 mi
30 min
16:501 hr 30 min
Villa Contarini
This is one of the biggest villas in Veneto, Villa Contarini, located in Piazzola sul Brenta, province of Padova.
This majestic complex was built around the 1546 and expanded later in the 1662, with a baroque structure commissioned by Marco Contarini.
The villa has a colonnade and a semicircular plan and an English garden with fish-ponds and tree-lined avenues, that were added in the 19th century.
It is suggested to make a reservation before visit.
This majestic complex was built around the 1546 and expanded later in the 1662, with a baroque structure commissioned by Marco Contarini.
The villa has a colonnade and a semicircular plan and an English garden with fish-ponds and tree-lined avenues, that were added in the 19th century.
It is suggested to make a reservation before visit.
33.6 mi
1 hr
19:2045 min
Giare
Going back to La Serenissima, there is a lovely stop on the route which includes a walk along the shore of the Giare, near Mira.
It is a path that extends along the old boarder of Venice, where you can still see some of the ancient "cippi" that were signals between two states.
Walking on the path it is also possible to admire from afar the landscape of Venice with its church towers and also the mountains of Asiago and Monte Grappa.
It is a path that extends along the old boarder of Venice, where you can still see some of the ancient "cippi" that were signals between two states.
Walking on the path it is also possible to admire from afar the landscape of Venice with its church towers and also the mountains of Asiago and Monte Grappa.
