Villa Pisani and its a-maze-ing park

As it can get pretty annoying to pass the whole summer on the beach, we decided to enjoy a walk in the park of one of the most beautiful villas of the Riviera del Brenta.

Villa Pisani in Stra belonged to one of the richest families in Venice, the Pisani, who weren’t only successful merchants, but also had an ambassador – at the court of Louis XIV, the Sun King – in their family (who later on became doge).

Due to financial problems, the Pisani sold the villa to the French emperor Napoleon Bonaparte who bestowed it on his stepson, and king of Italy, Eugène de Beauharnais.

Today you can still admire Napoleon’s bedroom in the villa. (It’s the one with the huge golden “N” on it ;).)

Apart from the villa with its stunning ball room, you can enjoy the amazing park that offers its visitors a huge basin, numerous statues, a romantic pavilion, an orangery, a former icehouse and – the absolute highlight – a maze. I wonder how long it will take you to cross the maze and reach the little tower in its heart: We got lost quite a few times and reached it after half an hour.