Home » Brenta Riviera

The waterway between Venice and Padua

Brenta Riviera waterway in the Veneto region, an area well known for the luxury shoe handicraft. It is perhaps the most famous and attended itinerary among those suggested to visit the Venetian villas. A waterway long about forty kilometers, which links Venice to Padua by tracing the course of an ancient branch of the river Brenta. From the fifteenth century, it was channeled and harnessed by locks for the navigation. Along the Brenta Riviera waterway, directly accessible from the lagoon, we can find the Venetian nobility villas. They are one next to the other, so beautiful and impressive. As a result, this waterway is defined as an extension of the Grand Canal of Venice in the mainland.

The Venetian Villas and the Brenta Riviera waterway

The villas of the Brenta Riviera waterway were the “place of delight”. In the modern sense of the term a pure “holiday” residence. Most of all adorned with statues, fountains, aviaries, ornamental gardens, parks, etc … And as of today’s tourist resort, the local economy was founded on the “holiday makers” stay. For sure to satisfy the needs of the rich nobles arriving in their luxurious villas with their private gondola. As well as of those coming up the Riviera on a public boat (the Burchiello that ran through the canal regularly), staying in small hotels, rented or friends houses. The villas along the Brenta Riviera waterway are numerous. But in this post, I report the most notable for artistic or environment merits.

From Padua to Venice

I describe the villas from the area of Padua descending toward the lagoon. An itinerary that, in some ways, contradicts the historic tradition. In fact, the Venetians were riding up the canal to arrive at their mainland villas. But this solution is more suitable for the needs of modern tourists. First of all, for the progress of the route from a normal environment, through the magic of the waterway until the incomparable spectacle of the lagoon.

From the Brenta Riviera waterway to the Venetian lagoon

This journey starts in the town of Strà and ends at the river mouth, where it opens the Venetian lagoon.
Therefore the first villa is Foscarini Rossi that recalls Palladio‘s patterns, and today it’s a shoe museum. Just after, Villa Pisani (now National Museum), huge and imposing complex built in the eighteenth century on the site of an earlier villa. The original project was by Girolamo Frigimelica. At his death, in 1732, the assignment of the work passed to Francesco Maria Preti. That completes it in time to celebrate the nomination of Alvise Pisani as doge of Venice.

The towns along the waterway

Continuing, always in Strà, you will see Villa Pisani “la Barbariga” of the 18th century. After a short break in Dolo, to find a site that still maintains a well preserved ancient charm with its mill, you arrive in the town of Mira. You pass by villa Venier Contarini, villa Alessandri, Villa Contarini “Dei Leoni”, and Villa Widmann Rezzonico Foscari. In the village of Oriago you will see villa Priuli Perale, and finally you get to Villa Foscari “La Malcontenta”.

Villa Foscari La Malcontenta

Of all the Venetian villas is, at least in the name, one of the most well known. It’s also one of the most romantically beautiful. Hence its charm is, to some extent, increased even by painful mutilation that the villa had to suffer from the mid-nineteenth century and the first decades of the last century. And most of all, it’ a work of Andrea Palladio.

Today we can rediscover this wonderful testimony of past centuries in different ways: by car, by bus, by bike, or by canoe.

Daniel Tesfamikael project manager Sightseeing in Italy, day excursion, art cities, outdoor activities, professional driverBy Daniel Tesfamikael

I’m the content Manager of Sightseeing in Italy. In addition to the blog posts, I manage all the articles of the website. As well as all the social media giving tips and solutions for travelers that are going to visit Italy. This is a country full of charm, able to satisfy all kind of needs. just make your choice…