Venetian Villas Day 2025: Heritage, Nature, Family, Wellbeing

Over 18,000 visitors at the fourth edition of Giornata delle Ville Venete

Over the weekend of 18–19 October 2025, more than 18,000 visitors took part in over 180 experiences offered by one hundred participating Venetian and Friulian villas. Adults and children immersed themselves in guided tours, tastings, musical performances and traditional activities linked to the civiltà di villa (culture of villa life). The event once again confirmed its role as a significant cultural and tourism initiative, capable of connecting past and present while engaging both individuals and families.

Venetian Villas Day 2025 (Giornata delle Ville Venete)
In 2025, the fourth edition of Venetian Villas Day (Giornata delle Ville Venete) took place, a widespread experiential tourism event that invited the public to explore the rich heritage of Venetian and Friulian villas.
Organised annually with the aim of making the architectural and cultural heritage of the villas more accessible to a wider audience, the event opened the doors of residences that remain closed for most of the year. The programme featured guided tours, thematic walks, tastings, theatrical performances and meetings with villa owners.

An experiential preview at Villa Foscarini Rossi

The press conference was held at Villa Foscarini Rossi in Stra, along the Riviera del Brenta, one of the most prestigious Venetian villas, which today houses the renowned Footwear Museum. The event, accompanied by a guided tour of the museum spaces, was conceived as an experiential preview of the atmosphere that later characterised Venetian Villas Day.

The initiative was promoted by the IRVV – Regional Institute for Venetian Villas and the AVV – Association of Venetian Villas, with the support of the Veneto Region, with the aim of enhancing and promoting awareness of the Venetian Villas through authentic experiences. Over 800 villas are currently protected by the IRVV, many of which are open to the public. Together, they form a genuine “widespread museum” – a living heritage that unites history, landscape and community throughout Veneto.

“Venetian Villas are a living heritage that tells the story of our identity and our connection with the land,. Opening their doors means sharing not only architectural beauty, but also a way of life – a culture of hospitality and excellence deeply rooted in Veneto.”

Cristina Rossi, owner of Villa Foscarini Rossi.

Convegno: Orizzonti oltre i confini – Un futuro tra Humus (terra fertile, nota della redazione) e Humanitas

Conference: Horizons Beyond Borders – The Future Between Humus (fertile soil, editor’s note) and Humanitas

The event was inaugurated on Friday, 17 October, with a conference reserved exclusively for professionals, held at Villa Zileri Motterle in Monteviale (Vicenza). The meeting, aimed at owners and administrators of villas, architects, historians, institutional representatives and the media, officially opened the fourth edition of the Venetian Villas Day (Giornata delle Ville Venete).

“The theme Humus and Humanitas arises from a fascinating linguistic and etymological connection. We wanted to explore the roots of these words and demonstrate their relevance in the context of today’s Venetian Villas.
The humus (fertile soil, editor’s note) of Veneto was the beating heart of their existence, a source of life and sustenance for entire communities.
At the same time, humanitas was expressed in the relationships that developed around the villa.Today, the Venetian Villas preserve this legacy, interpreting it in new and vital forms.”

Isabella Collalto de Croy, President of the Association of Venetian Villas (AVV)

The theme Humus and Humanitas – the central thread of the 2025 edition – invited reflection on the relationship between landscape, architecture and humanity.

For visitors taking part in the weekend programme, this theme became the key to understanding the essence of the event:
humus – the fertile soil from which the Venetian Villas were born – remains a symbol of life and continuity, while humanitas represents the human dimension and the care that these residences continue to express.

Villa Zileri Motterle – A meeting place between past and present

Villa Zileri Motterle, the venue of the conference, is a historic complex surrounded by a vast park of extraordinary botanical diversity.
Its main hall is decorated with frescoes by Giambattista Tiepolo, painted in the early 18th century. Count Alessandro Zileri further enriched the villa with precious details, including a restored Viennese piano — a reflection of the elegance and vibrant cultural life of his time.

A weekend of art, nature and well-being

During the weekend of 18 and 19 October, more than one hundred Venetian Villas opened their doors to the public, offering visits, concerts, tastings, workshops and thematic stays.
It was a unique opportunity to discover the Venetian Villa of yesterday, today and tomorrow, amid autumn landscapes and unforgettable atmospheres.

It is autumn – the landscape turns to warm tones, the air is filled with the scent of roasted chestnuts, and sometimes the rain arrives. It is the perfect moment to discover the Venetian Villas, where architecture and nature merge in a harmony that changes with the seasons.

More information: www.giornatavillevenete.it