From Venice to Vicenza along the Brenta river: Palladio and his Villas

An architectural tour among the wonders of Palladio

The proposed tour leads us to the discovery of the fabulous Palladian Villas on the Brenta river: Vip Limousine can also organize inland navigation services, with transfers among some of the locations of the itinerary, on a private boat which will make some stop-overs along the chosen places.

This is a classic itinerary, twisting and turning through a path, a waterway, from Venice up the river to the Riviera, as is named this area rich in jewels of Art and Architecture dating back to 1500 to 1700.

Among the artists having left in this area their heritage: Andrea Palladio, Vincenzo Scamozzi, Giuseppe Jappelli, Giambattista Tiepolo, just to name the most important ones.

The Riviera

Among the most representative renowned villas of this, unique in the world, district there is Villa Pisani, built for the noble family Pisani from Santo Stefano, well known for having hosted historical meetings between politicians and European aristocracy. Absolutely not to be missed, the 11 hectares park, recognized to be the most beautiful in Italy, with the Labyrinth of Love, one of the biggest labyrinth in Europe. Inside Villa Pisani, a guided itinerary through the 30 rooms of the piano nobile lets us admire the collections, the paintings, the decorations and furnishings of the Neoclassical period, as in the Ballroom the masterpiece “Glory of the Pisani family”, a fresco by Tiepolo. Currently, during the summer, Villa Pisani hosts musical events and performances of great quality.

Villa Foscari, called la Malcontenta, is the only one work by Andrea Palladio in the territory of the Riviera (his major works are located in the provinces of Padua and Vicenza) among the other 23 historic Villas in the Unesco World Heritage List. Nowadays this villa is a private residence, but open for visitors. Majestic, monolithic but with a great classic repeal, as the style of Palladio is, La Malcontenta is said to have its nickname after its construction, when a young noblewoman, Elisabetta Dolfin, from the rich and powerful family Foscari, was relegated there to expiate her infidelity.

Going on in this itinerary, several other Villas of the Riviera can be visited, all with their own history showing the power of the aristocracy in the period between the 16th and the 18th century, when the Riviera was accessible only by water. We at Vip Limousine select our tours on the river Brenta according to the wishes and requirements of our Customers.

Thermal Baths and Relaxation

At this point, the geography of this itinerary offers a wonderful opportunity to match the beauty of the culture with a relaxation break at the Spa of Abano and Montegrotto, where you can stay in the best luxury hotels enjoying the beneficial thermal waters of these famous places.

The World Heritage jewels

After the pleasant thermal break, along the course of river Brenta, the itinerary continues between the charm and beauty of the Palladian Villas, starting with Villa Contarini, in Piazzola sul Brenta. Built on the ruins of an ancient medieval castle, Villa Contarini has known over the centuries the splendours of the aristocracy and the political vicissitudes. The Contarini family, with noble origin and very influential in Venice, let realize the project of the central body of the Villa very probably by the architect Palladio in 1543. In the following century the Villa was expanded in the baroque style and, towards the end of the 19th century was realized the picturesque English-style garden, with an extension of over 40 hectares of land.

Arriving in the territory of Vicenza, the destination of our itinerary, we will visit Villa La Rotonda, perhaps the most representative of the Palladian work, an archetype, becoming over the centuries an icon that has inspired the following architectures, with its ideal and impressing proportions and its mathematical beauty. A beauty that Palladio proposes also in the wonderful architecture of the Palladian Basilica, the old Palazzo della Ragione rising in the center of Vicenza, today the seat of cultural events and always been the symbol of the city, and then the Olympic Theatre, authentic wonder of the Palladian art in Vicenza, from roman inspiration. After the death of Palladio, the Olympic Theatre was accomplished by this son.

An extraordinary artistic and architectural heritage, left by Palladio in the Venetian territory, which makes this region one of the most popular destinations from Italian and foreign visitors, always fascinated by the huge treasure of the Italian cultural heritage.

Vip Limousine will allow you to reach easily this destination in a car with driver, at your disposal for all stages, both by road or waterways, of your itinerary. For further information and personalized tours with driver from Milan, please refer to our contact page.

The Houses of the City appear beautiful to the Gentlemen, since they lived there for a long time in comfort, managing the goods for themselves and for the Republic. But not less utility and consolation the Gentleman will get from the Villa, where he will spend his time to admire his possessions, and dedicating himself to agriculture he will increase his faculties with the physical exercise, because in a Villa people walk or ride a horse and this helps to keep the health and strength, and finally in a Villa the soul tired of the hustle and bustle of the city will take a rest letting people the time for the study of literature and for the contemplation; as these wise men used often retire in similar places, where, visited by virtuous friends and relatives and having houses, gardens, fountains and other pleasant places, they could easily live that blessed life, that here on Earth can be obtained.

Andrea Palladio, The four books of architecture