Vicenza

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.

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.

Villa Ferramosca, Sesso, Beggiato, Monti, Berti stands on the ancient foundations of a medieval castle in the Barbano area, nestled in the countryside of Vicenza. Historical and architectural studies confirm that, in 1565, the renowned jurist Girolamo Ferramosca commissioned the construction of the villa from architects Giandomenico and Vincenzo Scamozzi, father and son, both central figures in Venetian Renaissance architecture. The project is deeply rooted in the noble Palladian tradition, showcasing both monumental grandeur and refined compositional elegance—qualities that continue to captivate today. The villa enjoyed its golden age between the 16th and 17th centuries, during which time the Ferramosca family, a prominent house of the ancient Vicentine nobility, held the feudal estate of Barbano along with numerous other properties throughout the province. Celebrated for their refined tastes and high cultural standing, the Ferramosca were also granted the prestigious title of Venetian nobility in the 17th century. Through a shrewd policy of strategic marriages, the family allied themselves with other important local lineages, thereby further consolidating their wealth and influence. By the late 18th century, following the extinction of the Ferramosca family, the villa passed first to the Sesso family, then to the Antoni Zaccaria, and finally to its last noble residents, the Beggiato family. Today, after decades of neglect, the villa is experiencing a new season of renewal, thanks to an ambitious architectural and structural restoration. The project, passionately and meticulously led by the current owners, seeks to restore the villa to its original splendor. It also aims to enhance the entire estate, interpreting it as part of a broader cultural and social vision. The ultimate goal is to return this landmark to the community as a place of identity, capable of telling the story of the art, ingenuity, and traditions that shaped centuries of both rural and aristocratic life.

Contacts and Visits

Villa Ferramosca is open to visitors by appointment only, due to ongoing restoration work and in compliance with current safety regulations.

To book a visit: (+39) 349 3531847

Villa Pojana Miniscalchi-Erizzo-Bettero-Chiarelli was commissioned to the architect Andrea Palladio by the Vicentine Bonifacio Pojana, a member of a family closely tied to the Republic of San Marco. The project, conceived by Palladio in the late 1540s, was completed in 1563, although only one barchessa (outbuilding) from the original design was actually built. The villa was finished in the following century, when the descendants of Bonifacio Pojana had an additional building constructed on the right side, with window mouldings inspired by Palladio's façade design.

The main floor features a large rectangular hall, covered by a barrel vault, which dominates the entire space. Surrounding it are smaller rooms, each covered by different types of vaults, evoking the symbolism of ancient thermal structures and creating a sense of continuity with classical antiquity.

Since 1996, Villa Pojana has been included in the UNESCO World Heritage List, along with the other Palladian villas of Veneto, recognized for their outstanding historical and architectural value.

In the heart of the Venetian countryside stands an architectural masterpiece designed by Giuseppe Gualdo:  Villa Gualdo, Valmarana, Vendramin Calergi now Palazzo Comunale, an imposing residence, with a central body on four floors flanked by two symmetrical wings. The elegance and majesty of the building are enhanced by three scenic staircases and side entrances. Among the treasures it houses is the splendid sixteenth-century lavabo in the atrium, attributed to the workshop of Palladian masters Giovanni Di Giacomo da Porlezza and Girolamo Pittoni da Lumignano. In the noble hall, now the council chamber, five doors with a horizontal entablature frame stucco busts of Roman emperors, probably from the Neoclassical era. The villa also hosts works by U. Coromaldi and Luigi Tarra, gifts from Marquis Giuseppe Roi, and features a permanent exhibition dedicated to Antonio Fogazzaro. The architectural context is enriched by the Little Church of the Heroes (1832), with a painting by G. Busato, and the former convent of San Marco, now belonging to the diocese of Padua, where Fogazzaro wrote the story Pereat Rocus.

The villa dates back to the early 18th century (with an original core from the 16th century) and represents a typical example of the style known as "rustic 700", which is distinguished by its sobriety and purity of lines from the lavish and ornate style of other major residences in the Veneto countryside. According to tradition, it was also built by an aristocratic family in the hinterland of the Republic of Venice as a summer residence. The villa has passed through various noble families: Counts Bonaguro, Counts Vanzo, Counts Caffo, Baron Sturm von Hirschfeld, and others, until, following the common fate of such properties, the lands associated with it were gradually sold and dispersed. In 1978, the residence and park were purchased by the current owners, who restored them with great care and named them "Gioiagrande" for their serene beauty.

Excellences of the villa: The villa is surrounded by a large agricultural estate, with a pleasant landscape and lush vegetation due to the soil's fertility and the abundance of waters derived from the Brenta River through an ancient and still effective canalization system. The extensive park, measuring 25,000 square meters, perhaps designed by the botanist Parolini, is maintained to a perfect standard: centuries-old plants, flowers, shrubs, watercourses, paths and walks, bridges and little bridges envelop and surround the villa, creating a pleasant and relaxing atmosphere.

Excellences of the context: Villa "Gioiagrande" is located in a particularly fortunate position as it is a short distance from well-known centers and cities such as: Bassano del Grappa, an ancient city and birthplace of the painters Da Ponte; Marostica, a walled city famous for its chess game; Castelfranco Veneto, the home of Giorgione; Cittadella, an ancient medieval village; Asolo, a beautiful village set in the hills of the Treviso region.