This private tour takes you to see three of the Palladian villas designed by Italian Renaissance architect Andrea Palladio. Visit Villa Emo, Villa Barbaro and Villa Foscari (also known as La Malcontenta).
The villas, which are famous for their exquisite frescoes, attract many tourists each year. Villa Emo is not lavishly decorated, but its simplicity and frescoes make it a fine example of Palladio’s purest creations as a villa architect. Touring villa Foscari, you will see how Palladio’s architectural style evolved. Villa Barbaro is the most richly decorated villa.
This tour also visits the charming hillside village of Asolo.
- Tour information
- Activity schedule
- Itinerary
When does it run?
Daily
Duration
8 ½ hours
Start time
0930h (09:30am)
Meeting point
The tour picks up from the water bus station on the Tronchetto (pier) port of venice or from Piazzale Roma di Risparmo depending on local conditions.
Your guide will be waiting holding a sign for the “Palladio Villa Day Tour”.
Please report at the meeting point 15 minutes before the start time. This is mandatory to allow time for pre-departure briefing.
See on map
Ending point
The tour returns to the original point of departure
- Tour information
- Activity schedule
- Itinerary
Your private tour starts from either Tronchetto or Piazzale Roma Casa di Risparmo, Venice at 0930h (09:30am). You will travel in an air-conditioned vehicle, accompanied by a guide as you leave Venice for the day to visit some of Palladio’s finest villas.
Your first stop of the day is The Villa Emo, the simple yet elegant design makes it one Palladio's purest creations as a Villa architect. Enjoy the Zellotti's frescoes, one of Palladio's favourite frescoes artists, as you tour the villa. And learn why many people regard this as the most beautiful of the Palladian Villas.
Continue to Villa Malcontenta. Along with its famous legend, this is one of Palladio's most famous villas. Built for the wealthy Foscari family, it sits in splendid isolation beside the waters of the Riviera Brenta Canal.
Whilst travelling between villas you will stop at the ancient village of Asolo. Whilst here you are free to explore at your leisure and your guide will recommend a local restaurant where you can enjoy a lunch of local delicacies (not included in the price).
In the afternoon continue to Villa Barbaro. The most richly decorated of all Palladian villas, is famous for its delightful Veronese frescoes.
At the end of your tour you will return to Venice. The tour ends at the original point of departure at around 1830h (6:30pm).