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).
Stra: Villa Pisani
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.
Stra: Villa Pisani Orangerie
Stra: Villa Pisani Ghiacciaia
Stra: Villa Pisani Labirinto
How to get there
Car: about 20-30 minutes from Venice/10 minutes from Padua
Bus: ACTV Line 53 (Padua/Venice)
Parking lot: coming from Venice, turn right at the sign „Stra“
Villa Pisani
Via Doge Pisani, 7
I – 30039 Stra
Opening hours
Monday Closed
1.April 2015 – 30.September 2015
Tuesday – Sunday 09:00am – 07:00pm
1.Oktober 2015 – 31. März 2016
Tuesday – Sunday 09:00am – 04:00pm
Attention! Opening hours of the maze differ (see homepage)
Piacere, mi chiamo Beatrice!
I grew up in the heart of the Alps, in Innsbruck, and decided in 2012 to move from the snowy Tyrolean peaks to the Venetian lagoon.
The travel-bug bit me during an Erasmus stay in France and so I decided after my University studies to start a backpack adventure through Canada.
After one year I said “good bye” to the American continent and moved to Venice (What you do for love!) and searched for a possibility to combine my passion for languages, travelling, culture and reading.
The solution? Four years ago I passed the governmental exam here in Italy to become a licensed tour leader and then a tour guide. Since then I’m guiding visitors through this fascinating city.
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