VILLA FOSCARI DETTA LA MALCONTENTA
Villa FOSCARI known as “ LA MALCONTENTA” is the only one built by the
famous architect Palladio along the Riviera del Brenta. It’s situated in the
municipality of Malcontenta, near Mira and it still preserves the original
architecture facing the waters of the Brenta River. In 1973 it returned to the
Foscari family and in 1993 it was listed by UNESCO as a world heritage site. The villa, as a choice
of its owners, has still no electrical service.
THE ARCHITECTURE
Villa Foscari is a majestic regal looking mansion
facing the river combining typical elements of the Venetian architecture with
others from the classical art of the IV and V century, well studied by
Palladio.
The staircases at the sides, were for visiting guests like a ceremonial path.
The villa is built on high foundations (Palladio wrote they should have been
11feet tall rather that the usual 5); so that kitchens and other rooms were
positioned at the ground floor, making the upper floors for the owners’ use
only.
The façade at the back is probably one of the highest examples of the Palladian
architecture, studying the sewage system it is possible to imagine the internal
disposition of places; the rooms have vaulted ceilings and the central hall has
a cruciform shape, while the side rooms have a domed ceiling.
The main hall is enriched by the allegorical frescoes by Gian Battista Zelotti
(1526-1578), who painted Astea’s story (Jove’s daughter left on Earth) and the
end of glorious times; paintings of the seasons are placed on the walls among
the ionic columns wanted by Palladio. These frescoes are unfortunately badly
damaged. Battista Franco known as “Semolei”(1510-1561), a friend of Palladio,
he had already worked for, started the frescoes of the side rooms as well as
the fresco entitled “the Giants’ fall”, though dying before finishing it, so
the work was completed by Zelotti. This painter also frescoed the room
dedicated to Bacchus. Other rooms were dedicated to the myth of Aurora and
Prometheus, while those on the southern side were dedicated to Fame and Time.
The frescoes preserved in these rooms are in good conditions.
The construction of Villa Foscari along the banks of the
River Brenta,
in the district of Malcontenta, was commissioned to Andrea Palladio by
Alvise
and Nicolò Foscari, members of one of the richest families of Venice;
Francesco
Foscari had been Doge of the Serenissima Republic from 1423 to 1457. The
villa
is situated a few kilometres from Venice. Finished in 1555, it gained
the
singular name of “la Malcontenta” (which means “the sorrowful lady”),
thanks to
one of the women of the Foscari family: Elisabetta Dolfin, who was here
imprisoned as a punishment to her infidelity.
There are other explanations to the nickname of this Palladian villa: it
could
refer to the memory of the disastrous flood that occurred in the past or
to the
peasants’ dissatisfaction. We’ll never know.
During the 19th century the Villa was left in badly
deteriorated
conditions, but today, thanks to the owners, Villa Foscari can be
admired in
all its magnificent timeless monumentality.
Villa Foscari is a majestic regal looking
mansion
facing the river combining typical elements of the Venetian architecture
with
others from the classical art of the IV and V century, well studied by
Palladio.
The staircases at the sides, were for visiting guests like a ceremonial
path.
The villa is built on high foundations (Palladio wrote they should have
been
11feet tall rather that the usual 5); so that kitchens and other rooms
were
positioned at the ground floor, making the upper floors for the owners’
use
only.
The façade at the back is probably one of the highest examples of the
Palladian
architecture, studying the sewage system it is possible to imagine the
internal
disposition of places; the rooms have vaulted ceilings and the central
hall has
a cruciform shape, while the side rooms have a domed ceiling.
The main hall is enriched by the allegorical frescoes by Gian Battista
Zelotti
(1526-1578), who painted Astea’s story (Jove’s daughter left on Earth)
and the
end of glorious times; paintings of the seasons are placed on the walls
among
the ionic columns wanted by Palladio. These frescoes are unfortunately
badly
damaged. Battista Franco known as “Semolei”(1510-1561), a friend of
Palladio,
he had already worked for, started the frescoes of the side rooms as
well as
the fresco entitled “the Giants’ fall”, though dying before finishing
it, so
the work was completed by Zelotti. This painter also frescoed the room
dedicated to Bacchus. Other rooms were dedicated to the myth of Aurora
and
Prometheus, while those on the southern side were dedicated to Fame and
Time.
The frescoes preserved in these rooms are in good conditions.
.
HOW TO REACH VILLA FOSCARI LA MALCONTENTA
Via dei Turisti, 9, - Malcontenta di Mira (VE)
VISITING HOURS E AND BOOKING
Closed on Mondays. On the other days the villa can be visited by appointment.
