Villa Godi at Lugo di Vicenza

Lugo di Vicenza 200 m/656 feet above sea level; train station at Thiene on the Vicenza-Schio line, about 7 km/4.5 miles to the southwest. On bicycle, the villa can be reached from the Vicenza-Thiene bike route.

This villa is important in the history of architecture by being the first project of the “Villa’s [sic] belonging to some gentlemen of the Terra Firma” designed by the young Andrea Palladio; “…placed upon a hill that has a beautiful prospect, and near a river that serves for a fish-pond” (from the Second Book of Architecture) it was constructed between 1537 and 1542 on behalf of the Vicentine nobleman Girolamo de’ Godi.

The villa has a scheme that is completely atypical of the form that Palladio was to adopt afterwards; at the center of the facade instead of the usual porch there is a recessed terrace with a monumental staircase, a motif that Palladio was not to use again. Inside there are frescoes by Gualtiero Padovano, Battista Del Moro, and Battista Zelotti.

Noteworthy also is the park surrounding the villa, its final design was laid out during the nineteenth century.

The villa changed ownership several times, passing first to the Valmarana family and then during the twentieth century to the Malinverni family who are still its owners; both the gardens and the interior of the villa can be visited for a fee. (See the official website of the villa.)

Photos Climb to the villa Facade The Palladio design

Captions One arrives at the villa along a small road that rises steeply; the entry is at a curve in the road which then continues as far as the front of the enormous Villa Piovene. (photo 1 May 2013) The principal facade of the villa has an unusual recess at the center, with a triple arcade set back, a terrace at the same level as the main floor, and a monumental stairway in the middle. Palladio was to modify this motif by transforming the recessed terrace into a projection or porch with three arches and subsequently into a Greek temple front. (photo 1 May 2013) The Palladio design from the Second Book of Architecture.

Links

Villa Godi on the CISA Palladio website with description, map and a 3D model. Villa Godi Malinverni on the visitPalladio website. Villa Godi Malinverni official website.