Villa Contarini Carrer

The noble Venetian Contarini family dedicated themselves to trade with the Orient by importing spices, silks and precious stones. Given his fame he honored the City of Venice with eight Doges, captains of fortune and high prelates. In the 16th century they invested their huge fortunes by building hunting lodges and agricultural estates in the territories that belonged to the Republic of Venice: this was how the villas were built with courtyards.

Prototype of these is Villa Contarini Carrer, which arose in 1500 as a wedding gift of the Doge Contarini to his daughter. At the end of the 1700s the neoclassical central body was enlarged, in vogue at that time and two barchessas were added, indispensable for hosting the numerous servants and for storing goods and animals.

The Villa was so sumptuous that in town it was called "Paradise": it was said, in fact, that abundance and happiness reigned here. It is also said that the most illustrious personalities of the time found themselves in his hall, attracted by the figure of the philosopher Rosmini (later made a Saint) who, a friend of the Carrer family, loved to stay here and that the entire Villa was a safe refuge for intellectuals Enlightenment.

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Map: Villa Contarini Carrer