Villa Chiminelli

Commissioned by the noble Venetian Francesco Soranzo, the residence features a single body with references to Palladian architecture. The barchesse, the chapel, the garden, the vineyard, and other annexes tell the story of the connection between the home, countryside life, and the productive activities that took place around the property.

The most significant element is the cycle of frescoes attributed to Benedetto Caliari, brother of Paolo Veronese. Painted columns, figures, landscapes, musical instruments, and illusionistic architectures animate the facade and the rooms of the noble floor, transforming the walls into a scenographic space typically Renaissance.

During World War II, the villa was used as a military hospital. In 1944, it was purchased by Francesco Chiminelli, who initiated the restoration of the building and the frescoes, some of which were still covered by layers of lime. The collections preserved in the annexes of the villa are also due to his collection activity.

The visiting route indeed includes the frescoed rooms, the chapel, the garden, and the collections dedicated to peasant civilization, leather processing, and modern antiques. These spaces allow visitors to understand the villa not only as a historical residence but also as the center of an agricultural, productive, and social system.