Villa Rizzi Albarea

Villa Rizzi Albarea was built in the 12th century and is the oldest Venetian Villa in the Riviera del Brenta area, between Padua and Venice.

The Villa is open to visitors for cultural tours, and offers accommodation in a luxury Bed&Breakfast where guests can stay in frescoed rooms, furnished with original antique furniture and featuring all the modern conveniences.

The Villa is surrounded by a historical park with a swan pond, islet, tower, swimming pool and wellness center.

From the 12th to the 18th century, Villa Rizzi Albarea was first a church and then a monastery founded by Blessed Giuliana di Collato, like the St. Biagio and Cataldo nunnery on Venice's Giudecca island. When the two monasteries were sold, the convent in Giudecca was destroyed to build the Mulino Stucky factory, while the monastery in Albarea was transformed into a Venetian Villa by the Rizzi family, who thus saved it from demolition.

The current descendants of the Rizzi family, Pierluigi and Aida, have restored the church, cloister and Villa, where today visitors can admire paintings and frescoes by the schools of Tiepolo, Tintoretto, Piazzetta and Palma.

The Villa also hosts several collections, such as vintage cars and racing trophies, art books and ancient prints.

It is also a venue for events, courses, concerts, exhibitions and receptions.