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IL BURCHIELLO®
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Every year from March to October, Il Burchiello® cruises along the Brenta Canal with departure from Padua or Venice on alternate days. The excursion is one of high historical, cultural and artistic value. Along the Canal we can admire more than fifty villas, once summer residents of Venetian nobility. While the cruise takes us through some really beautiful spots, we can appreciate the high technological value of the engineering work carried out in order to create this ship canal, allowing the development of civilisation over the years. Along the way, Il Burchiello® stops at three of the most important mansions: Villa Pisani, Barchessa Valmarana and Villa Foscari "Malcontenta".
Departing from Padua, the first visit is devoted to the grandest of all the villas on the Brenta: Villa Pisani, wich is now a National Museum. Built by the Pisani family of Venice between 1720 and 1756 to celebrate the election of Alvise Pisani as Doge, the villa was based on a design by Girolamo Frigimelica, later modified by Francesco Maria Preti. In 1807 the villa was sold to Napoleon I. Among the artists who decorated the apartments, the most outstanding was Tiepolo, whose masterpiece, painted in 1761-62 "Apotheosis of the Pisani Family" graces the ceiling of the ballroom. After pausing at the lock at Dolo, Il Burchiello® docks at Mira to visit Barchessa Valmarana, a 17th century. Our next stop is at famous restaurant "Il Burchiello®" to savour the best of the local cuisine and enjoy a pleasant interlude of relaxation.
In the afternoon our cruise continues, with the possibility of stopping at Villa Gradenigo. Next we come to Villa Foscari, better know as La Malcontenta (the Unhappy): this villa has a stupendous interior and is one of the most important masterpieces of AndreaPalladio. It was built in 1558 for Nicolò and Alvise Foscari and still belongs to the descendants of that noble family. According to legend, the villa owes its name "Malcontenta" to the wife of one of the Foscari who was confined here against her will. The frescos inside are attributed to Giovanni Battista Zelotti and Battista Franco, two local 16th century master. After visiting Villa Foscari, we sail through theancient lock of Moranzani, heading towards the Venetian lagoon and docking near Piazza San Marco.
The motorboats Il Burchiello® used for the cruise are provided with a heating and air condicioning system, a well supplied bar, toilet, microphone and stereo equipment. The internal decoration features fine and precious materials such as briarwood, mahogany, moquette and crystal. Three-seater couches placed opposite each other with a table in a centre allow passengers to sit in comfort while admiring the extraordinary synthesis of history, art and nature that only the Brenta Riviera can convey.
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Regions of Italy
Motorways
Veneto
Venice