Travel Guide Brenta

The city of Venice looked as long as it could reach the sea. However, when its powerful neighbors on the continent began to threaten it, the Serenissima had to turn to the land to defend its positions. Little by little, Venice set up a ground defence system capable of guaranteeing political and military security, in addition to an easy supply. This happened at the beginning of the th century and since then the history of Veneto and the Brenta River has undergone profound changes. The major changes in international trade at the time forced the wealthy families of Venice to invest in the acquisition of land, rather than risking their fortune in trade, then threatened by the presence of the Turks. The neighbouring Brenta territories represented privileged areas for the installation of the populations: the river which crossed them allowed to reach Venice directly and quickly and also to connect Venice to Padua, a prestigious religious and cultural centre. On the banks of the Brenta, regularly maintained, the most important Venetian families bought many land for intensive farming and, close to water, built country villas where they willingly came to stay from June to September, the Venetian countryside having the advantage of being more ventilated than the City of Venice, consisting of narrow streets where the wind cannot fill up. This resort also allowed them to control crops. Investments proved to be profitable, but it was mainly the softness of the landscape and the safety of the site that eventually convinced the most reluctant families.The Riviera della Brenta was a 36-km long holiday resort. Just as they had done in Venice, families were playing signs of their wealth. They rivalisèrent in the decoration of their villas, through the frescoes, the paintings… which can now be admired in these lovely "countryside palaces". From Malcontenta to Villa Pisani, the greatest architects were invited to build: Andrea Palladio, Vincenzo Scamozzi, Baldassarre Longhena, Frigimelica. The great of the painting then came to adorn everything: Zelotti, Tiepolo, Zuccarelli, Guarana, Zais, Ruschi, Caliari… Today, along the banks, there are almost villas with their park, only a small part of which is open to the public. You can go by boat, as at the time, or by car. Tourist tours are planned for bicycle lovers. However, wait for miles! In short, it would be a pity not to immerse itself in the green of the labyrinthine gardens, not to go caresser the curves of the statues that make it to hide behind the bushes…