Don’t miss this cruise through the Venetian Villas of the Brenta Riviera!
The Venetian Villas are unique in the world for their architecture, cultural heritage and beautiful landscapes. Built by Venetian noble families and wealthy landowners, these magnificent residences tell the story of a fascinating era in the history of the Veneto region.
We highly recommend visiting these beautiful historic villas. A journey through the past, made even more special by a mini-cruise aboard Il Burchiello, a traditional Venetian-style historic boat that travels along the Brenta Riviera, connecting Padua and Venice.
The Venetian Villas Itinerary
The journey begins at Borgo Portello in Padua, located about 90 km from Eraclea Mare and Caorle and 70 km from Lido di Jesolo. From here, the cruise follows the entire Brenta Riviera towards Venice.
Among the magnificent villas along the route is Villa Pisani, also known as the “Doge’s Palace of the mainland”. This grand residence was commissioned by the Pisani family. Alvise Pisani was Venice’s ambassador to Paris during the reign of Louis XIV.
The cruise then reaches Villa Barchessa Valmarana, with its elegant colonnade overlooking the garden. Inside, you can admire beautiful frescoes dating from the second half of the 18th century, created by Tiepolo and Michelangelo Schiavoni, known as “il Chiozzotto”.
Next comes Villa Widmann, a typical 18th-century summer residence surrounded by a delightful park and considered one of the gems of the Brenta Riviera. The villa houses one of the few surviving examples of a felze, the traditional covered structure once used on Venetian boats. The central hall is entirely decorated with frescoes, while the ceiling celebrates the Widmann family through figures and symbols inspired by Greek mythology.
The itinerary then includes a lunch stop at the famous Il Burchiello restaurant.
After lunch, the cruise continues to Malcontenta, where you can admire Villa Foscari, known as La Malcontenta, one of the masterpieces of Andrea Palladio. Built for Nicolò and Alvise Foscari, the villa still belongs to the descendants of the family today. According to legend, the name “Malcontenta” (“Discontented”) refers to the unhappy wife of one of the Foscari family members, who was allegedly exiled here against her will.
Leaving Malcontenta behind, the cruise continues towards Venice, where the journey comes to an end in the spectacular St. Mark’s Basin.
For further information and details about the itinerary, we recommend visiting the official website here.
Looking for ideas for a day trip?
If you love exploring art cities, don’t miss our article about Verona. If you would rather spend the day surrounded by nature, we recommend a trip to the spectacular Tre Cime di Lavaredo.
Main image – Credits: “Scuderie” by Mauro Sartori is licensed by CC BY-ND 2.0
