Villa Grimani Morosini

Stepping through the ornate gates of Villa Grimani Morosini, you’ll be transported back to a time of Venetian grandeur. The Villa was built in the 16th century by the wealthy and powerful Priuli family. The initial construction of the building was likely completed sometime between 1566 and 1575. They knew how to build impressive homes. Today, the Villa stands as a testament to their legacy, with its beautiful architecture and stunning gardens. The Priuli family, famous for being the origin of three Doges of the Republic, owned the estate for almost a century. The design of the Villa is a beautiful example of Venetian architecture with its squared plan, spread over three floors. This plan is fairly common to find in the region. The front facade is adorned with frescoes painted by Giambattista Zelotti, a leading artist of his time. The Priuli family faced financial hardship and were forced to sell much of their property. The Villa went on to become the family estate of another powerful family – the Grimani. The Grimani family were known throughout Venice for their wealth and influence, and they carefully remodeled Villa Grimani Morosini in the early 18th century, carefully adding two stunning barchesse. While the barchesse are a common feature of Venetian villas, the layout of Villa Grimani Morosini is quite unique. The west barchessa is solely used for guest lodging. The building showcases exquisite frescoes by Francesco Fontebasso, a talented pupil of Sebastiano Ricci. The east barchessa, with its interior created by Francesco Zugno, is the more extensive of the two wings and stretches toward the “small palace.” The small palace is a tower-like structure with an arcade on the ground floor. It was a popular gathering spot for travelers and guests, and would serve them a cup of coffee on the first floor. These grand buildings were connected to the existing wine cellars, dating back to the late sixteenth century. They were also connected to another tower, the “columbarium”, built on three floors and linked to the granary. An interesting addition was made by the Grimani family. It was constructed in 1807 and called the “under butler’s cottage,” which included a chapel where the church chaplain would reside. The many structures, including the dovecote, chapel and outbuildings, create a square, almost perfect plaza. The arrangement of the buildings highlights the harmonious relationship between the main villa and its outbuildings.. The garden was designed in the popular style of the early 18th century and the two documents (1671) containing different but almost identical project plans are proof of that. The garden project, probably commissioned by Antonio Grimani, was intended to be carried out, and the first plan included designs from Mattia De Rossi and Felice Della Greca. It is more likely, that the garden, which was only completed in 1706, was designed by the French architect André Godeau. Villa Grimani Morosini continues to enchant visitors and remind them that the beauty of Venetian architecture and the elegance of the lifestyle of the Venetian aristocracy are still alive today.