The Veneto villas, a heritage to be enhanced

Amidst the lush valleys of the Veneto region and the historic towns of Friuli-Venezia Giulia, are hidden architectural gems: residences, many of them Palladian, that not only display the splendour of Italian art, but also contain stories of bygone eras, intriguing family secrets and traditions that have spanned the centuries. In an area rich in Unesco sites, such as the Prosecco Hills of Conegliano and Valdobbiadene, Palladio's villas, and the cities of Verona and Venice, to name but a few, there is a little-known and still little-exploited heritage with great potential in terms of cultural and economic development.

According to the latest census of theRegional Institute for Venetian Villas (IRVV) the heritage consists of 4,000 buildings, of which 3,807 are located in Veneto and 436 in Friuli, of which 15% are public property and the remaining 85% are private property. The IRVV, established by Regional Law No. 63 of 1979, has the task of taking care of cataloguing, restoration and valorisation through the publication of studies and research, analysis and support activities and the provision of public funds. The recently updated regional law endows the IRVV with renewed competences such as the valorisation of the collections preserved in the villas, and educational activities aimed at the new generations, carried out in partnership with schools and universities. Lastly, the most difficult task is that of promoting the entire complex of villas and mansions in a touristic key, which appears as a very fragmented whole that is not used to working as a system. The objective is to promote an overall project to strengthen the cultural offer integrated with sustainable tourism through art, culture, wine and the production of quality agricultural products. In order to realise its assigned tasks, the IRVV has an annual budget in 2024 of about EUR 3.6 million, increased in 2024 by a contribution of EUR 500,000 from PNRR funds for works to remove architectural barriers at Villa Pojana in the province of Vicenza. In total, the Veneto and Friuli-Venezia Giulia regions will contribute an amount of 850,000 euro. The budget of a total of EUR 4.05 million is divided 43% into current expenditure (personnel, governance bodies, operation and promotion) 20% into capital expenditure (works and renovations) and 38% into loans. With regard to this last item, calls for loans and grants for the restoration of villas were issued at the end of 2023. However, the IRVV website has not yet published the lists of grant recipients.

Castello di San Salvatore, Susegana (TV)

Colline del Prosecco, patrimonio UNESCO

Next to the Institute operates the Associazione Ville Venete, also operating since 1979, which aims to safeguard and support its more than 400 associates and a total of 1,100 villas including non-members. The association organises cultural events, educational initiatives for schools and open days in cooperation with the FAI, and also enhances agriculture by favouring ancient crops such as vineyards, wheat and the many educational farms to promote native excellence. Among the initiatives realised, the flagship is the "Sorsi d'Autore" initiative, now in its 25th year and realised thanks to the AIDA ETS Foundation, which aims to unite art, literature, music and wine and food culture. This year's edition hosted more than a thousand art and wine enthusiasts. According to Isabella Collalto de Croÿ, the association's president, it is necessary to 'activate a plurality of virtuous processes that affect the entire system'. Collalto de Croÿ continues: "For us, it is fundamental to network and at the same time it is imperative to preserve the ecosystem of a classic villa layout, which is conceived with gardens, vegetable gardens, woods, pastures and vineyards. A kind of sustainability ante litteram. On the occasion of next autumn's Venetian Villas Day (18 and 19 October), the themes of the environment and sustainability will be addressed at a conference, which together with tastings, visits and education last year attracted more than 15,000 people.