Vicenza

Villa Angaran San Giuseppe was born as a country residence for Count Giacomo Angaran del Sole, son of Stefano Angaran and Paola Capra, descendants of two important families of the Vicentine nobility. Giacomo, the firstborn, marries at a young age to Bianca Nievo, an educated woman, poetess, and entrepreneur, with whom he has five children.

The family lives in Vicenza but, given their great prosperity, decides to build a country villa, commissioning it, in the Bassano area, from the great architect Andrea Palladio. The two were close friends to the point that the architect dedicates his magnum opus to the count: the Four Books of Architecture, published in 1570, which includes the design for the villa for Giacomo, the current Villa Bianchi Michiel. During the construction of the first villa, Giacomo suffers significant financial losses, his firstborn son passes away, and his wife is investigated and executed as a heretic. Angaran then sells the construction site and the project of the first villa and begins, in 1588, the construction of his new residence, in the Cherubine area, entrusting the supervision of the works to Silla Palladio, the son of the great master.

The name of the architect who designed the new villa is unknown, but the strong references to Palladio's teachings are still apparent in the façade and layout. The villa has a simple and regular plan, with a spacious atrium of double height at the center of the symmetry axis, which divides the two staircase blocks, two studies, and two square rooms at the ends. In 1595, the Villa passes to the Angaran delle Stelle, who own it for about 300 years before selling it to the Favero family and then, in 1921, to the Jesuit Fathers, who turn it into a house for spiritual exercises, inaugurated in 1924: Villa San Giuseppe. Throughout the 20th century, the structure underwent numerous modifications and extensions, losing its original symmetrical structure; in 1945, it was also hit by a wartime bomb that completely destroyed the northern façade.

Excellences of the villa: The most interesting element is the incomplete 16th-century façade, composed of 4 semi-columns with Doric capitals on the ground floor that frame two arched openings with rustication, and a section of wall with two architraved openings, and 4 semi-columns of Ionic order that frame 3 smooth arched openings on the first floor. A frieze with metopes and triglyphs completes the order on the ground floor and wraps around the side of the building. A dentil cornice caps the building. On the southern front, there is the 16th-century plaque and the stone banner of the "Angaran del Sole." The northern front instead bears the banner of the "Angaran delle Stelle," while on the western façade is the divided coat of arms representing the union of the two families. The western façade also features the portal of an old chapel, formed by two semi-columns with bas-relief motifs related to pastoral and evangelical themes supporting an arched frescoed pediment.

Excellences of the context: The villa is embedded in one of the largest green areas of the Bassano historic center: four hectares of park facing the Brenta River and directly connected through a pedestrian passage to the Ponte Vecchio, which is 700 m away. The green area is partly dedicated to the cultivation of vines, olive trees, fruit trees, and partly available for recreational activities.

Villa Barbarigo Rezzonico in Noventa Vicentina, also known simply as Villa Barbarigo Rezzonico, is a Venetian villa located in the center of Noventa Vicentina (VI), built in the late 16th century by the nobleman Giacomo Barbarigo. The building, designed by a Venetian architect associated with Vincenzo Scamozzi, is notable for its majestic four-story structure and the barchesse (arcaded wings) that complete it.

From 1836 to 1891, it served as a Mechitarist college. It was then purchased by the municipality, which first used it as a school and later as the Town Hall—a role it continues to serve today. Rich in frescoes by artists such as Maganza, Vassilacchi (known as l’Aliense), Foler, and Luca Ferrari, the villa celebrates the history and virtues of the Barbarigo family through mythological scenes and dogal portraits. The grand ballroom, decorated with The Truth Unveiled by Time, is especially renowned for its acoustics.

Open to visitors by reservation or during special events, it remains one of the town’s most important historical and cultural landmarks.

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It was built by Angelo Caldogno under the work of Andrea Palladio in 1570. The façade is very harmonious, with three arches framed by rustic stones opening at the center, which is approached by a beautiful pavilion staircase. A triangular pediment emphasizes the center of the façade, which develops tranquil and luminous surfaces around the rugged frame of the three arches. Notable are the frescoes by G. A. Fasolo, G. B. Zelotti, A. Maganza, and G. Carpioni. Villa Caldogno is one of the most successful contemporary realities of Palladian architecture: home to the municipal library, it offers its representative spaces for cultural events and social gatherings. Also noteworthy is the recent restoration of the garden and the fishpond, as well as an interesting contemporary architectural intervention on the barchessa, now used as an exhibition space. The last element of the mosaic represented by the Palladian historical-architectural complex is a German bunker from World War II (the villa was the headquarters of the German command) with a non-defensive purpose but for rescue. All of this makes up the C4 - Caldogno Contemporary Culture Center system. The monument is included in the UNESCO World Heritage List.

On the hill of Montruglio, in the locality of Mossano, stands one of the most beautiful 18th-century residences.
Commissioned by the Vicentine family of Arnaldi, who had come into possession of the property's land in the mid-16th century through a connection with the Pigafetta family, the villa was built between the 17th and 18th centuries by architect and landscape designer Francesco Antonio Muttoni.
To reach the villa, you pass through the entrance gate, ascending along a path in the woods, to arrive at a large wrought iron gate.
The building comprises the immense central villa, where on the right are the portico and the barchesse, while on the left is the family chapel dedicated to the "Conception of the Virgin Mary".
The long 40-meter façade is divided into three sections: the central one with the entrance and balcony, and the two lateral sections with the domestic rooms.
The dimensions of the building are amplified by the staircase and the enclosed terrace that surrounds a large and solemn garden.
Noteworthy are the interiors with sumptuous decorative paintings and the flooring: a Venetian terrazzo in green, one of the rarest remaining in Veneto.
Another significant feature is the imposing barchessa from the 1700s with clear Palladian and Scamozzi influences, entirely made of the warm stone from Nanto.
Importantly, there is the armory room, once a stable, where a collection of ancient weapons is preserved, and the Hall of Olympus.
Towards the end of the 90s, the villa underwent an important restoration and now part of the central body is designated for residence, while other spaces host events and exhibitions in addition to the offices of the agricultural company.
The villa has a large park and private woods, immersed in the nature of the Colli Berici.

The Oratory of the Immaculate Conception of Montruglio
Built in 1697 at the behest of the noble Costanzo Arnaldi.
Originally well-furnished with three significant marble statues depicting the Blessed Virgin and two angels, but they were later transported to the oratory of St. Teresa in Noventa Vicentina following the transfer of ownership to the noble Salvi family.
In the early 1900s, the oratory lost importance and was declared suspended in 1915, as it lacked the necessary resources.
The altar was donated in 1956 by Duke Camerini to the parish church of St. Peter in Mossano, where it is still present today.

Located in Noventa Vicentina, in the province of Vicenza, Villa Manin Cantarella is one of the most important historic residences in the region. Built between the late 16th and early 17th centuries by Venetian nobles, the villa was renovated in 1883 by architect Antonio Caregaro Negrin, who enhanced its facade and barchesse, giving the building an elegant 19th-century appearance.

Over the centuries, the villa changed ownership, and in 1797, after the fall of the Venetian Republic, it became the property of the Masotto family. It was later purchased in 1882 by Bortolo Cantarella, who entrusted its final renovation.

Characterized by a large central hall, fine frescoes, and a vast park, the villa is a perfect example of Venetian architecture. The barchesse, with their large arches, reflect the agricultural activity that once dominated the area.

Today, Villa Manin Cantarella hosts cultural and private events and has been carefully restored, bringing the park back to its former glory. The villa, with its artistic discoveries and history, is one of the most fascinating residences in the province of Vicenza.

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Situated on the Berici Hills, just outside Vicenza, the Villa is Giambattista Tiepolo’s last work in Italy. In 1757 Count Giustino Valmarana called the artist and his son Giandomenico to fresco it. The Villa still belongs to the Valmarana family and it includes two adjacent edifices with superb frescoes. In the Palazzina, upon the owner’s suggestion, Giambattista worked on great epic themes, such as Iphigenia in Aulis, Iliad, Furious Orland, Aeneid.