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On set of the 1941 film I have come across some amazing pictures, taken on location during the filming of "Piccolo Mondo Antico" the film directed by Mario Soldati of probably the most important book of Antonio Fogazzaro. The discovery of the tiny printed photos, in a vault at Villa San Bastiano Fogazzaro, has been a revelation. We have tentatively attributed them to my mother, Maria Teresa Ceschi a Santa Croce Roi, or possibly a family friend, as she is also depicted in the

The Veneto region is now among the world's top destinations according to Lonely Planet: the only Italian region in the "Best in Travel" list. From the Gazzettino newspaper: "... Recognised for its variety of experiences, landscapes, and culture within a single territory; visitor numbers and arrivals continue to rise. Veneto has officially made it onto Lonely Planet’s "Best in Travel" 2027 list—a curated selection of the best experiences and destinations compiled by an interna

ANDREA PALLADIO'S FINAL MASTERPIECE The Teatro Olimpico is much stranger and more significant than simply being an old theatre. What makes it extraordinary is that you're effectively walking into a Renaissance attempt to resurrect an ancient Roman theatre indoors - and much of what you see has survived from the 1580s. The extraordinary stage illusion The feature to pay most attention to is behind the stage façade. Look through its openings and you'll see streets apparently ru

Gather the family around the fireplace As a family home Villa San Bastiano Fogazzaro has seen many Christmases through the years and we can host you and your family for an unforgettable one again, and create memories and warm feelings for you and your loved ones, steeped in history and elegant surroundings. Plenty of space to display Christmas presents! We can arrange to have a bespoke level of Christmas decorations and a tree of your choice, so get in touch in plenty of time

As we’re often asked for suggestions about what to do and where to go in winter for skiing day trips, I have compiled a list of suggestions you may find useful. Staying @Villa San Bastiano Fogazzaro you’re actually well positioned for skiing day trips into the Asiago Plateau and the Trentino area. Our picks would be: 1) Ski area Alpe Cimbra — Folgaria - our favourite ski area: roughly 1 hr 20–40 min by car from the Villa. This would be my choice for a proper full day of downh

Don't rush straight from sightseeing to dinner (or lunch!). The ritual Aperitivo - short history. From the Latin verb "aperire" — “to open” - a drink (and the social ritual around it) taken before a meal. It’s therefore related to English aperture, meaning “an opening,” which ultimately comes from the same Latin verb aperire. Originally, aperitivo had a more medicinal sense: an aperitivo could be something thought to open the digestive passages or stimulate appetite. In Itali

A food guide from Villa San Bastiano Fogazzaro Vicenza is a wonderful food destination, particularly if you are interested in genuine regional cooking rather than a tour of the familiar “Italian greatest hits”. The cooking here is earthy, agricultural and closely connected to the surrounding countryside: polenta, slow-cooked meats, thick handmade pasta, salumi - charcuterie, mountain cheeses, seasonal vegetables and some excellent local wines. And when it comes to food, the p

Vicenza was designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site because of its exceptional collection of buildings designed by Andrea Palladio and the enormous influence his architecture had around the world. UNESCO originally inscribed Vicenza,” City of Palladio” in 1994, under cultural criteria and in 1996 the site was expanded to include 22 Palladian villas across the Veneto, becoming “City of Vicenza and the Palladian Villas of the Veneto”. Palladio transformed Vicenza by introducing

The Little Silent Valley - A contemplation of Fogazzaro's view The Valletta del Silenzio (“Little Valley of Silence”) is a quiet, green landscape right in front of the Villa. The name is closely associated with Antonio Fogazzaro, who lived here and made the landscape part of the imaginative world of his novel "Piccolo Mondo Moderno. The phrase “Valletta del Silenzio” itself appears in the novel. For Fogazzaro, the valley is more than a geographical setting. It is an intimate,

It all happened around here: the first ever film of an opera shot entirely on location is the "Don Giovanni" of Joseph Losey, filmed around Villa San Bastiano Fogazzaro, amid some of the most beautiful villas of Andrea Palladio. Joseph Losey, when resting in Villa San Bastiano Fogazzaro during breaks of the filming, would sit in silence on the terrace, gazing at the peaceful Valletta del Silenzio, absorbing the "silenzio" of the surrounding landscape, it's stillness: a peacef

What destroyed Villa Fogazzaro during the Second World War? The destroyed Villa Fogazzaro seen from Villa Valmarana ai Nani The photograph depicted here, taken on the 19th of May 1944, is a very rare document of the ruins of the villa seen from the gardens of our neighbours, Villa Valmarana. (Above, behind the triangular tympanum surrounding the classical statue is now our swimming pool and yes you can just see the branches of the iconic pine tree in the top left corner of th

An evaluation of the masterpiece by Palladio

A Unique Stay in One of Vicenza's Most Historic Villas If you're looking for an unforgettable holiday in northern Italy, Villa San Bastiano Fogazzaro offers an experience unlike any other. Nestled on the peaceful hills of Vicenza, the villa combines timeless elegance, literary heritage, and modern comfort in one extraordinary destination. Originally the home of renowned Italian novelist Antonio Fogazzaro, the villa overlooks the famous Valley of Silence (Valletta del Silenzio

Proud, elegant, majestic stands the reborn, unique "three trunks" pine tree near the edge of the garden. Once the pride of the Fogazzaro estate, integral part of the Art Nouveau residence where Antonio Fogazzaro lived and worked, was the pine tree, a centenarian specimen that survived the bombing of the villa but not the wrath of a fierce storm in the late '60s. After careful tree surgery it has returned to the original iconic shape and now proudly adorns the skyline of the e

Food and wine are a major part of the experience when you come to Villa San Bastiano Fogazzaro. The Veneto has a strong regional food culture that goes well beyond stereotypical Italian pizza and pasta. You'll encounter risotto, polenta, baccalà, bigoli pasta, Asiago cheese and cicchetti, alongside wines including Prosecco, Ripasso, Soave, Valpolicella and Amarone. Vicenza is particularly well positioned for this because several important wine and food areas are accessible on

We recently had the pleasure to host a group of art lovers from France, people who know and love Italy, Vicenza, the Veneto and indeed Antonio Fogazzaro. In fact they brought to the villa copies of "Piccolo Mondo Antico" in French, to donate to their friends in the group! And, (what a great idea!) they projected the film of the opera "Don Giovanni", by Joseph Losey, on a screen erected on our front terrace, in view of the Valletta del Silenzio: what a fabulous location for t