Two Centuries of History at Villa Widmann Rezzonico Foscari

It has been there since 1719, "Place of delights" and noble residence of that holiday resort, so well narrated and described by the Venetian playwright Carlo Goldoni.

It was built by the will of Diodato Seriman, originally from a rich family of textile entrepreneurs of Armenian origin...

... on that landed property obtained by marrying in 1705 the Tuscan Elisabetta Tornimben.

The Seriman loved the way of life of the noble Venetian families and like them they loved to spend long summer periods on the mainland between sumptuous parties and gallant meetings...

The majestic entrance of the Dominican House gave directly to the central hall and recalled the ancient Greek temples with a tympanum supported by two central columns and two lateral pillars.

But... in the second half of the eighteenth century, the Villa was sold to the Gabrio of the Milanese Serbelloni family who completely restored it!

The ceiling was smashed into the living room, a suggestive balcony was built and a second floor with a particular cross shape was added.

The Widmann family from Carinthia fell in love with it and immediately wanted to buy it.

The Widmans, like the Serimans, loved the way of life of the Venetian nobles... but, unlike the first ones, they managed to obtain the aggregation to the patriciate of Venice.

It was the election of Cardinal Carlo Rezzonico as Pope that led to the embellishment of the Villa. His niece Quintilia had married Louis IV Widmann, thus uniting the two noble families.

In 1765 two very popular and beloved artists in the Venetian environment of the time were called to fresco it.

Giuseppe Angeli, disciple of Giambattista Piazzetta, took care of the representations. He preferred light and bright colors to bestow a joyful tone to the spaces.

For the walls he chose two mythological scenes: the Rape of Helen and the Sacrifice of Iphigenia. Perhaps dramatic themes but made light by serene faces and soft colours...

On the ceiling was represented the glorification of the Widmann family: the coat of arms of the Florentine lily and the crescent moon with the four seasons.
"Nature, better life, smiles at the Widmann family".

Gerolamo Mengozzi Colonna, right arm of the great Tiepolo, created the rococo frames with a skilful use of chiaroscuro capable of creating very suggestive three-dimensional optical effects.

Various marriages and alternating fortunes marked the dynasty of the family, but the Villa always remained in their hearts so much so that they regained it, after having gone to auction in 1883, at the beginning of the 20th century.

It was Elisabetta Widmann Rezzonico, after her marriage to Pietro Foscari, who returned to this noble residence in 1901.

Thanks to her and her great love for this place, the majestic green space was transformed into the monumental park that we can still admire today.

It was in this period that the romantic little artificial lake took shape, which, like the Park, changes its colours with the passing of the seasons.

In 1970, Lodovico Foscari, Elisabetta and Pietro's son, sold the complex to Commendator Settimio Costanzo, a textile industrialist from Vicenza.

Costanzo ordered one of the most important restorations of the Villa: the bathrooms were built and the electrical system was inserted in the whole building.

He was also responsible for the closing of the majestic entrance to the Dominican House where he inserted the splendid chandelier: over 360 pieces in blown Murano glass.

The sumptuous life, full of parties, events and illustrious guests, brought the Villa to auction in a few years. In 1984, he bought it from the Province of Venice, now a Metropolitan City.

Since then this place not only preserves the history of the families who lived here...

... bears traces of the customs and traditions of the Venetian nobility of the 18th century, one of the periods of maximum splendor of the queen of the seas and arts.