Riviera del Brenta
Coordinates: 45 ° 25 ' N , 12 ° 3' E
The Riviera del Brenta is the bank of the Brenta Canal , which runs from Stra to the Adriatic Sea and was created in the 16th century by canalization of the Brenta River . Nowhere else can you find such a density of Venetian villas outside of Venice as here. Already in the early modern times, the city's nobility and patriciate fled to the cooler villas on the Brenta Canal, at least in the summer months.
The villas are often country residences of nobles who spent their summer vacation there. The journey took place in gondolas or comfortable boats, the so-called Burchielli . In addition to the noble ladies and gentlemen of society, these also transported adventurers, artists and comedians. Once on the banks of the Brenta, the company liked to go from party to party, from villa to villa, which gave rise to the - somewhat euphemistic - Italian expression “andar per ville”. There are essentially three different types of villas: Azienda, Tempio and Reggia. Its architects include such famous names as Andrea Palladio , Girolamo Frigimelica , Francesco Maria Preti and Vincenzo Scamozzi . Some of these villas are partially dilapidated, others are well preserved and accessible to tourism. Leisurely boat trips with tours of the villas and a final landing directly on St. Mark's Square are among the tourist attractions of Veneto .
The municipalities of the Riviera del Brenta, as Unione di comuni ( Municipal Association ) Città della Riviera del Brenta, include Dolo , Fiesso d'Artico and Fossò , as well as Mira , Stra and Vigonovo .
Web links
- Regional tourism association
- Città della Riviera del Brenta
- Info page of the Venice Tourist Office with photos and descriptions of the main villas
- Drawing of the Brenta Canal by Canaletto
