Villa Valmarana, Venetian villa in Saonara, Italy
Villa Valmarana is a Venetian villa in Saonara with a rectangular footprint that rises over two floors and an attic level. The building features architraved openings and French doors that open onto a noble terrace at the main floor.
Between 1816 and 1838, nobleman Antonio Vigodarzere commissioned its construction to provide work for the local population during severe famine. The project emerged from a response to economic hardship in the region.
The dining room displays original furnishings decorated with frescoes by Michele Fanoli and paintings featuring the Cittadella and Vigodarzere families, reflecting the artistic taste of local nobility. The wall decorations tell the story of those who once lived here.
The estate includes a 17-hectare (42-acre) park designed by Giuseppe Jappelli that contains a grotto system and a neoclassical chapel by Angelo Sacchetti. Visitors should plan to spend time exploring the full grounds.
The park contains a temple chapel with Masonic elements, including an oath chamber and graves constructed using materials from the Sant'Agostino church of Padua. These unusual architectural details reveal the connections and beliefs of the original owners.
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