Via Porciglia, 34- 35121 Padova - Italy. Phone ++39 049 8760233 Fax ++39 049 8763410- E-mail: info@battellidelbrenta.it
Antoniana.it  Virtual Navigation of the Brenta Canal The trip Motorboats
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ALONG THE BRENTA CANALThe "Venetian Villa" was a phenomen introduced in the Veneto region between the XV and XVI century perstisting for other two centuries until 1797 date of the fall of the glorious Venice Repubblic. The venetian villa was born and idealed as a summer estate answering the need of evasion of the rich lords of Venice. Starting from the 16th century canals and rivers, easily reached by Venice, were coasted by magnificent estates.The Brenta Canal that connected Venice with Padua became a well-known navigated canal, place of delight and an ideal extension of Venices Grand Canal where about fourty luxorious villas were built.  Here, not far from the city, wealthy
nobles spent their vacations, leaving Venice on
comfortable boats called "Burchielli" that
navigated the Brenta Canal, these boats were pushed by
oars from St. Mark's through the venetian lagoon to
Fusina, where they were then halled by horses to Padua
along the Brenta Riviera.The trip was fascinating; proceeding through villas and weeping willowtrees, young ladies and gallant men, nobles and adventurers, commediants and artists livened life on board making the journey picturesque and amusing. |
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| Near the end
of the 18th century with the fall of the Venice Repubblic
by hand of Napoleon, the hardships and privations of the
venetian "Dolce Vita" (sweet life) reflected
the inland as well, the number of passengers and trips
were slowly reduced until the service finally ceased. In the sixties the provincial tourist organisation of Padua reproposed this touristique itinerary. The service started again with a considerable increase of passengers. Today, various and numerous boats navigate the waters of the Brenta Riviera from Venice to Padua and return bringing thousands of tourists to visit the venetian villas. A group of these boats called "I Battelli del Brenta" sail from Venice to Padua (mondays excluded) and viceversa, stopping in the most beautiful and famous villas tied to illustrious names like Palladio, Veronese, Tiepolo, for a guided tour. The small cruise starts leaving Venice passing in front of Villa Malcontenta, one of many masterpieces of the genius Andrea Palladio; with its monumental pronao that reflects itself melonchoningly and superbly in the waters of the canal. |
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| Then you will arrive to Oriago, ancient theatre of war between Padua and Venice that conserves "il termine" (ancient column that signed the boundary mark) and numerous other villas amongst which Villa Gradenigo characterized by that typical venetian atmosphere. |  Villa Gradenigo |
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| Along
the route you will arrive to Mira where the largest
concentration of villas are found. We meet Villa Barchessa Valmarana of which we admire the great colonnade and its important paintings, masterwork of Michelangelo Schiavoni. |
 Villa Valmarana |
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| Deserves to be remembered Villa Widman, summer estate of the 18th century surronded by a magnificent park; Villa Corner, theatre of splendid receptions and sumptuous parties (it is said that these parties lasted over 8 days) and Villa Foscarini where Lord Byron spent 2 years of his life (1817 - 1818). |  Villa Wildman |
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| At Stra, where the Brenta Canal is originated by the Brenta River we will admire the magnificence of Villa Pisani, a sumptuous villa wanted by the Pisani Family between 1720 - 1740, as status- symbol of its power; a monumental jewel that conserves indescribable masterpieces like the room of Bacco del Guarana; the Pompeiana hall; halls decorated in empire furniture; the superb ball room of Tiepolo. | |||
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