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Villa dei Vescovi dates back to 1535 when its construction began and lasted until 1542.
It was designed as a summer resort for Bishop Francesco Pisani.
The Villa featured compact structure with a square layout, lightened on two sides of the first floor by two loggias opening onto the surrounding landscape. The main access route was created in the square courtyard and the crenellated fence with three large portals. The façade of the Villa was then enriched with the stairways connecting the loggia and the terrace. A staircase and a cave with a fountain were embedded within the eastern façade.

In the XVII century, several bishops put a lot of efforts in managing the gardens, the vegetable gardens and the orchards surrounding the Villa.

The park runs through the vineyards around the main building, crossing wonderful the landscape and the very crops where Moscato and Fior d’Arancio grapes are born. Where the vineyard ends, there is a thicket of marasca cherry trees, made of 84 specimens (Prumus Cerasus var. “Marasca Luxardo”), used for the production of liqueurs.
From the south terrace of the Villa, visitors can access the orchard, furnished with tables blessed by shade of peach trees (Prunus persica), pear trees (Pyrus communis), plums (Prunus domestica), cherry plums (Prunus cerasifera), apple trees (Malus domestica), quince apples (Cydonia oblonga), and pomegranates (Punica granatum).

From the south side of the park, visitor can walk to “Laghetto delle Rane” (“The frog pond”), a secluded area of the park, where to relax and enjoy water lilies (Nymphaea alba), several aquatic plants, fish and frogs.

A secret passage crosses “Viale delle Ortensie”, leading visitors to the” Corte della Villa”.

A special “Orto-Giardino di Villa dei Vescovi” has been devised to offer training and tutoring about gardening, vegetable gardens, and garden design with several events, training and instructional activities.

In 2005, this villa was donated to the FAI (National Trust of Italy). Guided tours are available for schools, groups; educational workshops and special visits can be reserved by appointment.

This post is also available in: Italiano (Italian)