Amazing Italy: Visiting Venetian Villas with Maria Cristina Buoso - by Maria Teresa De Donato

                                         Amazing Italy:                             

 Visiting Venetian Villas with Maria Cristina Buoso

 

by Maria Teresa De Donato

 

 

Today, we will continue traveling in our Amazing Italy with our dear friend Maria Cristina, Author and Blogger. Maria Cristina continues to inspire us by sharing her territory's naturalistic, historical, and artistic beauties and highly appreciated recipes.

I wish you all a good read!

 

 

MTDD: Hi Maria Cristina, and welcome back to my Virtual Cultural Salon.

MCB: Thank you for the invitation. It is always a pleasure to be your guest.

 

MTDD: Maria Cristina, after introducing your city, Rovigo, to us in detail, you moved on to the province.

What are you going to talk about today?

MCB: Today, I want to discuss Venetian Villas in general and those of Palladio in particular. Then, I will make specific posts to present them better.

 

MTDD: Great! Villas have always fascinated me.

What can you tell us about the Venetian ones in particular?

MCB: The Venetian Villas tell centuries of history and art; they are real jewels of the Veneto region and nationally. Rovigo and its province alone have around ten Venetian Villas, including the Estense Castle of Arquà Polesine and one designed by the memorable Andrea Palladio, the Badoera.

Everyone knows that Palladian architecture has forever changed the way and aesthetics of buildings because these villas are true masterpieces of the balance of shapes, proportions, and perspective.

Between 1994 and 1996, the Venetian and Palladian villas were included in the UNESCO World Heritage Sites list.

 

MTDD: Fantastic! They, therefore, constitute a heritage that must be safeguarded and which we should all be proud of.

MCB: Indeed. I agree.

 

MTDD: Who built or had these Villas built, and who owns them now, the State or some private individuals?

MCB: The Venetian Villa is a patrician residence founded by the nobility of the Republic of Venice. It was developed in the agricultural areas of their properties on the Mainland between the end of the 15th century and the 19th century.

More than four thousand Venetian Villas were built during this period, and many of these are still preserved and protected by the Regional Institute of Venetian Villas. They are mostly found in the Veneto, in particular the Brenta Riviera and some plains of Friuli-Venezia Giulia. Approximately 80% of the villas are privately owned, 5% belong to the Catholic Church, and the remaining are in public or mixed ownership.

In Veneto, there are 3807 villas, and in Friuli, 436.

The architect Andrea Palladio linked his name to a specific type of Venetian Villa (24 villas) that we now all define as the Palladian Villa. Other buildings are linked to the names of great architects such as Vincenzo Scamozzi, Giovanni Maria Falconetto, Jacopo Sansovino, and extraordinary artists such as Giovanni Battista Zelotti, Paolo Veronese, and Giambattista Tiepolo.

 

(Andrea Palladio)

MTDD: Could you share some historical and architectural particularities of the Venetian Villas with our readers?

MCB: Gladly. Before leaving, I will give you specific information on these houses.

The Venetian Villa is set in a large agricultural property. The building is enormous, and at the center of the properties, we find the Villa, which is the residence of the owners and is a place of representation as well as a summer holiday (I recommend reading or seeing Goldoni's works) and almost all the villas had no security systems winter and kitchen heating.

Next to the master's residence were buildings for agricultural work: warehouses, greenhouses, etc. The barchessa, a generally elongated construction that collected goods and equipment, was an excellent innovation for its time because it gave an architectural and noble form to needs that had until then been considered unworthy of honor.

This architectural structure facilitated the development of all the decorative arts connected to it, such as sculpture, painting, fresco decoration and cabinet making, garden art, and water regulation necessary for the regulation of fountains and lakes.

As you can see, the topic is vast, so as usual, I will leave you some links to learn more if you wish:

https://www.arte2000.it/blog/ville-palladiane-splendide-architetture-nelle-campagne-venete/

https://it.wikipedia.org/wiki/Villa_veneta

https://www.villevenetecastelli.com/un-po-di-storia/

https://www.gentepocket.it/le-piu-belle-ville-venete-da-vedere-a-rovigo/

http://www.villevenete.net/

 

MTDD: Will you also share a recipe with our readers today?

MCB: Of course! Today, I will share the recipe My Mother’s Memory.

 

My Mother’s Memory Recipe

 

When she was little - during the Second World War - dinner in the evening was a simple bowl of polenta with melted butter inside, which she still remembers with pleasure.

The polenta (choose whether to make it instant or normal—by now, you should be able to easily make it 😊) must, however, remain soft because it will then be eaten with a spoon.

Towards the end of cooking, add the butter and mix well until it is completely blended and melted. The quantity will be to your taste but remember to taste it.

Then, pour the polenta into a bowl and, if you wish to do so, add a few more pieces of butter on top, which will melt as you eat it. If you wish for extra pampering—we can afford it today—add a grating of parmesan cheese.

This is, therefore, a simple recipe from times gone by when people didn't have anything else to accompany this dish with.

 

Enjoy your meal!