Villa Foscari, Renaissance villa in Malcontenta, Italy
Villa Foscari is a Palladian villa in Malcontenta featuring a three-story symmetrical facade with grand columns that face the Brenta canal. The building rises on an unusually elevated base that distinguishes it from typical structures along the waterway.
Andrea Palladio designed and built this villa between 1558 and 1560 for two patrician brothers of the Venetian Foscari family. It became one of the architect's significant works within the region's villa tradition that followed his theories.
The interior rooms display frescoes by Battista Zelotti and Bernardino India depicting mythological and allegorical scenes. These wall paintings tell stories from the ancient world and shape the feeling of each space.
The villa is best visited during warmer months when guided tours operate regularly throughout the week. Check ahead to confirm open days, as schedules can vary with the seasons.
The building sits on a notably high platform that far exceeds the typical standard of its time. This elevation protected the villa from flooding while giving it a commanding presence above the canal.
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