In the VVI century, the definitive domain of Venice on the countryside turned the later to become the barn of the republic. The fusion between rural traditions and costumes of venetian patricians brought the develpment of a new social order, called the civilation of villas, where agricultural productions laws merge with the most sophisticated needs of the aristocracy.The villa, born as a factory and a farm became one of the highest expression of the countryside civilization. The so called Barco della Regina Cornaro (1490 c.a.) and
villa Barbaro at Maser (Andrea Palladio, 1550 c.a.) represent the apex of this historical moment. In the later factory, the productive structure is definitively integrated with its aulic, monumental beauty. Indeed villa Barbaro can be considered, in absolute, the villa archetype. The same balance, can be seen in villa Emo, even though with a more restrict formulation of the classical architectural code.

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Suggestions
Palladio's works in the sorrounding of Asolo

Within a 15 km radious from Asolo, four Palladian works are worth a visit:
Villa Barbaro at Maser: built between 1550 ed il 1560. The Tempietto (chapel) was constructed between 1579-80.The central residential space is erected on the remains of a medieval castle or manor house. Its facade features four engaged Ionic columns adapted from the Temple of Fortuna Virilis in Rome. As at nearby Villa Emo, barchesse (farm buildings) extend symmetrically from the left and right of the central structure. The ends of the barchesse are surmounted by dovecotes, each with a large sundial on the facade. The interior of the central residence is highlighted by magnificent frescos executed between 1560 and 1562 principally by Paolo Veronese and stuccos by Alessandro Vittoria. Set in the hillside at the rear of the central residence is a spectacular spring-fed statuary grotto known as a nymphaeum. The nymphaeum may have been the conception of the villa's patrons. One of them, Marc'Antonio Barbaro, executed several of its statues and contributed other sculptural decoration to the villa as well.
In 1996, it has been declared world heritage by UNESCO.
Winter opening:
saturday, sunday and holidays from 14:30 hr. to 17:00 hr.
Summer opening:
Tuesday, saturday, sunday and holidays from 14:30 hr. to 17:00 hr.
Villa Emo: located in the village of Fanzolo di Vedelago, was built in the period 1559-65. The central residential space features four columns, two of which engaged, in the manner of a Greek temple front. As at nearby Villa Barbaro, barchesse (farm buildings) extend symmetrically from the left and right of the central structure, with the ends of the barchesse surmounted by dovecotes.
Opening (may-september only):
monday, wednesday-friday from 14:30 to 18:00
Tuesday: 15:00-18:00
Saturday: 14:30-19:00
Sunday:1 0:00-12:30, 14:30-19:00
Alpine Bridge at Bassano del Grappa: earlier news on the existance of a bridge on the Brenta River date back to 1209. Destroyed several times by the force waters and bellic events it has been re-built between 1568 and 1570 by Andrea Palladio. In 1948, after a II world war bomb destroyed it, it was built again in accordance to the palladian project.
Villa Angarano Bianchi Michiel at Bassano del Grappa

Palladio's works in Vicenza and its sorrounding

The basilica: it was built on the pre-existing palace belonging to Domenico da Venezia. Its project is part of the works aimed to renew the town (renovatio urbis) following the submission of Vicenza to Venice.
Olimpic Theatre: it's the last Palladio's work, brought to the end by the son, Silla, after the father's death. It underlines once more the classical palladian lesson.
Villa Almerigo, La Rotonda: It is situated atop a hill in suburban Vicenza. Its four facades with relative pronao look out upon cultivated fields on three sides and a wooded slope on the fourth. The central dome, one of Palladio's most famous and imitated motifs, was itself inspired by the roman Pantheon. The villa can be said to represent the sum of the palladian theory. It was was acquired and restored to its present condition in the 20th century by the Valmarana family of Venice.

Villas skirting the Brenta River
(La riviera del Brenta)

The riviera del Brenta, has been, since the XVI century, the prefered destination of ventian patricians hollydays (villeggiatura). Several villas skirt the river, some of them, have a relevant artistic value. The first villa we meet, leaving from Venice is Villa Foscari, also known as La Malcontenta. Designed by Andrea Palladio, it's a typical example of the palladian villa-temple, with a circular-rectangular central body part. Very interesting the solution of the noble-floor with a greek cross all covered by cross vaults. Interesting are aslo frescos and stuccos by Battista Franco e Giambattista Zelotti. But the most famous and prestigeous riviera's villa remains Villa Pisani at Stra. The huge rectangula swimming-pool, introduces the view to the villa's facade, designed initially by Giirolamo Frigimelica and brought to the end by Francesco Maria Preti of Castelfranco, in thel XVII century, in accordance to the classical schemes of the palladian architecture.
Frescos by Giambattista Tiepolo. Very famous the labirint garden, the so-called esedra.

Among Palladian villas the most relant ones remain those five known as villa Barbaro, villa Emo, villa Cornaro, villa Foscari La Malcontenta and villa Almerigo La Rotonda.

villas map