Villa Foscari and other Stra, Italy Off The Beaten Path Tips

Villa Foscari is also known as "La Malcontenta" and has a tranquil setting by the Brenta. Its greek temple-front design is unmistakable by Andrea Palladio.
Opening: April - October (Tuesdays and Saturdays).
Hours: 9.00 a.m. - 12.00 a.m. Other days: book to visit. (opens for tour groups doing the Brenta Cruise) We had a 30 minute stop here and this was enough to view the few rooms on display and a short walk in the gardens.

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Phone: 041 5470012 - 041 5203966

Villa Foscari is one of the finest examples of Palladio's small country mansions. It was built in 1558 for Nicolò and Alvise Foscari and still belongs to the descendants of that noble family.
According to legend the villa earned its name “Malcontenta” from the wife of one of the Foscari who was confined here against her will - hedr portrait can be seen on the wall of one of the rooms.
Beautiful colourful frescoes adorn the walls too - by Giovanni Battista Zelotti and Battista Franco, two local 16th-century masters.

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Villa Widmann is in Mira, built in the 18th century. This was one of the other villas we visited on our Brenta cruise. Not a huge villa to see but again stunning whole cycle of paintings, really vibrant colours - this time by Angeli. The paintings had a special effect too - virtually 3 Dimensional, it looked so effective - pleas see other pics by clicking the link :-)
The entrances of the villas - as in this case - were usually grace by statues.

Opening: March (Sundays), April-October (from Tuesday to Sunday)
Hours: 10.00 a.m. - 5.00 p.m.(June- September 10.00 a.m.-6.00 p.m.)
phone 041 424156 - 041 5609350

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The garddens of the villas were also a main fature - again often decorated with fine statues on the immaculate lawns and other parts of the ground - they really did want to impress their friends and neighbours!

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Apart from the frescoes decorating the walls of the villa ther are various other exhibits displayed in the rooms - like this old gondola - and in the grounds the stables and coach house had various carriages on display.

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On the opposirte side of the riverbank to Villa Wildmann is the Barchessa Valmarana -formed from two penthouses. The right one, also called guesthouse of the Villa Valmarana, was used by the family to accommodate the "foreigners". This villa is offered as an alternative villa to visit on the Brenta Cruise. Here the dinning room frescoes are said to be splendid.
summer opening (except on Mondays) from 9.30 to 12.00 a.m. and from 2.00 to 6.00 p.m.
For any further information or booking, please call the 041.5102341.
Admission price Euro 6,00, groups Euro 4,13.

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