Villa Pisani

Stra, Italy

Villa Pisani is the name shared by a number of villas commissioned by the patrician Pisani family of Venice. However, Villa Pisani usually refers to a large, late baroque villa at Stra.

The construction was begun in the early 18th century for Alvise Pisani, the most prominent member of the Pisani family, who was appointed doge in 1735. The initial models of the palace by Paduan architect Girolamo Frigimelica still exist, but the design of the main building was ultimately completed by Francesco Maria Preti. The villa has on its walls the works of Giambattista Tiepolo and other famous painters.

When it was built the building had 114 rooms, in honour of its owner, the 114th Doge of Venice Alvise Pisani. The most important room is the 'Napoleon Room' and its near bathroom, furnished with pieces from the Napoleonic and Habsburg periods and others from the Pisani period.

In 1807 it was bought by Napoleon from the Pisani Family, now in poverty due to great losses in gambling. In 1814 the building became the property of the House of Habsburg who transformed the villa into a place of vacation for the European aristocracy of that period. In 1934 it was partially restructured to host the first meeting of Adolf Hitler and Benito Mussolini, after the riots in Austria.

Architecture

From the outside, the facade of the oversized palace appears to command the site, facing the Brenta River some 30 kilometers from Venice. The villa is part of a series of villas, which the Venetian noble families and merchants started to build in the 15th century. However, unlike the earlier buildings, which were designed as to be a pleasure house and an agricultural enterprise, Villa Pisani was primarily built as a demonstration of the power achieved by the family, since one of them, Alvise Pisani, was elected doge in 1735.

The broad façade is topped with statuary, and presents an exuberantly decorated center entrance with monumental columns shouldered by caryatids. It shelters a large complex with two inner courts and acres of gardens, stables, and a maze. Giovanni Tiepolo decorated the massive frescoed ceiling depicting the Glory of the Pisani family (painted 1760–1762). Additional frescoes and paintings are by his son Gian Domenico Tiepolo, Crostato, Jacopo Guarana, Jacopo Amigoni, P.A. Novelli, and Gaspare Diziani. The bombastic allusions of the ceiling echo in the now uninhabited shell of a palace. The remainder of its nearly 100 rooms are now empty; on the first floor there are several rooms with furniture of the 18th and 19th century.

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Address

Via Doge Pisani 7, Stra, Italy
See all sites in Stra

Details

Founded: 1735-1756
Category: Palaces, manors and town halls in Italy

Rating

4.5/5 (based on Google user reviews)

User Reviews

Flavio Augusto (11 months ago)
Beautifull place. Well gardned, Wonderful for spend sundays afternoon.
Fran Fulvi (2 years ago)
Marvelous Villa. Once home to the Nobel family Pisani and then later known as the "Royal Villa" hosting many royal families. It now has 168 rooms and a wonderful garden. Many of the rooms can be visited and have wonderful decor from the 1700 - 1800, it will for sure take you back in time. The villa and garden are kept beautifully and will take you about 2 hours to visit everything. Its A MUST VISIT if you are in the Region.
Csaba Csaki (2 years ago)
A hidden treasure - amazing garden and beautiful villa, almost no one else visiting. Less than an hour from Venice, convenient if you have a car. Ample of parking.
Nils Paellmann (2 years ago)
Magnificent castle built by the Pisani family and later purchased by Napoleon in 1807. The Tiepolo ceiling fresco in the main room, glorifying the Pisani family, is truly magnificent. The building has 114 rooms in honor of Alvise Pisani who was the 114th doge of Venice. The rooms represent different stylistic influences, from 18th century late baroque, to Empire neoclassical style, to later 19th century styles. Magnificent gardens, including a labyrinth, with superb view lines.
Vincent Goede (3 years ago)
The story behind this location far exceeded my experience of this place, the museum was nice to see, the garden was good, but only a part was accessible, while the west side wasn't maintained and closed off, the back building on the end was there just standing empty and barren. The maze was closed and so was the restaurant. Not as spectacular as the Louvre or Palace 'Het Loo'
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