Villa Contarini

The main structure consists of a central building and two large symmetrical wings, decorated with balustrades . The right (when viewed from the square) wing is additionally decorated with statues carved from soft stone located above each of the balustrades. The authorship of the creation of statues, including those located on the fence, is attributed to Antonio Tarsia , one of the Venetian sculptors of the beginning of the 18th century (who became much more famous than in Italy, thanks to the appearance of his sculptures in St. Petersburg ( Summer Garden , Hermitage ), Tsarskoye Selo ( Catherine Park ) and Peterhof ^[1] ).

On the contrary, separated from the main building by a garden, a fence, two canals and a square, on the right wing side there is a semicircular building of porticoes with large columns . It completes the architectural ensemble of the villa.

In the decorative garden in front of the villa there is also a family chapel (one of the main works of Tommaso Temanza ). There you can see the tombstone of Silvestro Camerini by Giovanni Dupre .

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  Facade and plan section of the main building ( Francesco Muttoni , 1760).

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  The main building of the villa Contarini.

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  The view from the main building to the garden, gate, fence, canals and the corner of the arcade building is farther.

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  One of the two loggias on either side of the entrance. Next is the garden, gate and view of the arcade building.

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  The sculpture of the fence, against the background of the left - from the observer - wing.

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  The left wing of the villa (in depth); to the left (and closer) is the chapel.

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  View from the garden of the chapel, the facade and one of the statues.

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  Lions at the chapel against the background of the left wing of the villa.

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  Right (for a view from the street) wing, along the wall.

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  The first (closest to the fence) of the two canals between the villa and the square.

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  Second channel. View of the right wing and arches connecting it with the “other shore”.

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  Entrance over the canals, gates, facade.

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  Plan of the ensemble of the villa ( Francesco Muttoni , 1760); from the semicircular arcade today only the right side remains.

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  The surviving right wing of the semicircular arcade building in the square.

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  Arch overlooking the garden and the square in the distance.

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  In the interiors of Villa Contarini.

As a result of numerous alterations and reconstructions, it is difficult to name the date of completion of construction. The resulting huge building became the largest villa in the Venice region, and, according to some sources, in Europe . The stone decoration of the balconies and windows of the central building was added later - in the Baroque era, adding pomposity to the classical style of Paladio architecture. The second half of the 18th century was the peak of the villa’s splendor, but later it turned from a front building into a suburban mansion. The villa has consistently belonged to the families of Contarini , Giovaneli and Correr . When in the second half of the 19th century the Camerini family bought it (already dilapidated), they did a lot of restoration and remodeling of the villa, which gave her the second common name: “Villa Camerini” , and was reflected in the mailing address (Via L. Camerini, 1) . Then, immediately after the war, the villa was abandoned for a long time.

In 1970, after a complete restoration, the villa becomes a cultural and social center where lectures, scientific meetings, concerts and other cultural events are held.

In the central part of the building is the so-called “Music Room”, 2 floors high of a three-story building. There is a hole in its ceiling connecting it to a room on the 3rd floor. When an orchestra of musicians played on the 3rd floor, the sound due to the special shape of the walls without distortion and loss was heard in the main room where the listeners were sitting. This room is widely known for its acoustics, and Vivaldi himself gave concerts in it. And now it is used for concerts and classical music recordings.

Villa Contarini was chosen as the scene for the movie “ Tell Me That You Will Do Everything For Me "( 1976 , with Johnny Dorelli and Pamela Villorezi , based on the plot of Piero Chiara ).

• Official website (in Italian and English)
• Description with bibliography on the website of CISA - International Center for the Study of Architecture Andrea Palladio (in Italian and English) (inaccessible link)
• Description on the website of the Institute of Villas of the Veneto Region (in Italian) (inaccessible link)
• Villa page (in Italian)