The Villa
Villa Rezzonico Borella dates back to 1700-1706. It was designed by the architect Baldassare
Longhena and is a typical neo-classical building, characterized by its linearity and simplicity.
Villa Rezzonico is composed of a main building which can be accessed by a stairway overlooked by
crouching lions. The ramps of the steps that ascend from the surrounding balustrade begin at the
vast Hall of Honour. The ceiling which is carried on its entire height by the building, carries a
canvas painting by Gian Battista Volpato in its central part, called “The Fall of the Giants”,
representing thundering Jupiter striking the Titans with lightning.
Until today a significant and unique painting by Canova remains in the Hall of the Villa:
the great canvas with “The Triumph of Faith” painted towards the end of the XVII century.
Architecture
The Villa is composed of a main building with four massive corner towers, to which two separate
buildings facing each other were added, with the function of foresterie, to house guests, called barchesse,
open barns, unusually separated from the main building.
The architectonic style of Villa Rezzonico Borella is typically neo-classical, a style dear to Venetian
artists and builders from the first half of the 17th century, characterized by its linearity and harmonious
simplicity, as can be seen from the great formal neatness of the four towers and the well-smoothed walls,
that have been rendered almost translucid by the marmorino finishing, with flat window frames devoid of
decorative elements and without gable.
The impressive portal contrasts with the extreme bareness of the facade, almost giving the impression of
breaking out of the walls, surmounted as arch key from a splendid sculptural piece in baroque style, built later.
Higher up, the presence of some protruding metal hooks bears witness of the past presence of the magnificent and
grand family coat of arms, symbolized by an eagle and a tower.
The two barchesse in Doric order were built by 1740 and include the elegant foresteria to the south of the
palazzo and a rustic building with arches, set about 80 metres north from it. The northern barchessa was built by
the architect from Bassano, Antonio Gaidon, between 1789 and 1790, incorporating the preexisting oratory dedicated
to St. John the Baptist in its interior, which features a statue dedicated to him, carried out by the Venetian
Gianmaria Gaj, an organ attributed to Calido as well as the bronze bells by Colbacchini.