Villa Contarini

Villa Contarini, with its grandeur and beauty, dominates the center of Piazzola sul Brenta, on the proscenium of a large semicircular square, half loggia and half tree-lined: a spectacular setting. The vast park behind, with lakes and avenues, is an oasis of peace.Originally there was a medieval castle on the site dating back to the year one thousand.
Purchased by the Carraresi family and inherited by the Contarini in the mid-16th century, it was demolished and the central body of the villa was built on its foundations, designed by Andrea Palladio, as a country residence.
In the mid-17th century, important interventions decorated the façade and added the two lateral wings (bringing the overall length of the building to 180 metres), giving the building its current Baroque style and transforming it from a rustic villa to a sumptuous place of representation and leisure: it was nicknamed the 'Versailles of Veneto' for its palace-like appearance and for the parties and events that were held.
A period of abandonment followed which lasted until the mid-nineteenth century, when the complex was purchased by the Camerini family and brought to its former glory, following the stylistic dictates of the era of eclecticism and liberty. At the end of the century the large English garden was also created, reclaiming the existing rice fields.
The villa was abandoned again after the Second World War. In 1970 it was acquired by a private individual, Giordano Emilio Ghirardi: thanks to his investments, it was restored and opened to the public and used as a prestigious venue for cultural activities and events.
Finally in 2005 Villa Contarini was sold to the Veneto Region.In addition to visits, today the villa is a location for events, concerts, company dinners, conferences, wedding receptions, photographic and film sets.villacontarini.eu
it.wikipedia.org/wiki/Villa_Contarini