Guided tours of Villa Emo

Looking for a Tour Guide of Palladio's Villa Emo?

I like the simplicity of the lines of the villa, the harmony of the volumes, the symmetry of the architectural and natural elements or simply the curious history of Leonardo Emo Senior and Leonardo Emo Junior. It is a Unesco site: taking someone to visit this beautiful work by Andrea Palladio gives me real energy!

The Venetian villa as a farmhouse

The porticoed barchesse (lateral wings), the access ramp, the dovecote towers, the many fireplaces inside and a simple architecture outside give us the idea of the strictly agricultural use of the estate.

Leonardo Emo Senior was the first who introduced the cultivation of corn in the land of Venice. The cob, so important to have the famous polenta, is painted in the frescoes inside by Giovanni Battista Zelotti – discover where it is!

You can also be interested in visiting Palladio’s Villa di Maser, 20 minutes from Villa Emo, just one hour from Venice!

Frescoes by Zelotti, Veronese's collaborator

Visiting the interior rooms, perfectly proportional, is very exciting. Among the petals of the always present roses – the flower of Venus -, myths, allegories and divinities come out. Sometimes we can find historical figures or taken from Ovid’s Metamorphoses. They are here to celebrate the married love, the one between Leonardo Emo Junior and his wife Cornelia Grimani.

At the same time they punish the illegitimate relationships. They enhance the beautiful Juno and her peacock and admonish Jupiter and his infatuations. To be honest, the stories of the Olympians here represented are all very curious… and very actual!

Everything is permeated by the rural spirit of the villa, whose Grotesque style frescoes refer to the propitiatory rites of the farmers. We can also feel the noble spirit of the owners, who show everywhere their values and those of the great Republic of Venice. So many curiosities! Ready to discover them?

Contact me for a guided tour of Villa Emo!