Chapter XV. Of the Designs of the Villa’s belonging to some gentlemen of the Terra Firma

AT a place in the Vicentine, called Finale, is the following building belonging to Signor Biacio Saraceno. The floor of the rooms is raised five foot above the ground; the larger rooms are one square and five eighths in length, and in height equal to their breadth, and with flat ceilings. This height also continues to the hall. The small rooms, near the loggia, are vaulted; the height of the vaults is equal to that of the roofs. The cellars are underneath, and the granaries above, which take up the whole body of the house. The kitchens are without the house, but so joined, that they are convenient. On each side there are all the necessary places for the use of a villa,

The following designs are of the fabrick of Signor Groralamo Ragona, a Viii- Plate tine gentleman, built by him at Le Ghizzole, his villa. This fabrick has the conveniencies before mention’d, that is, one may go every where under cover. The pavement of the rooms for the master's use, is twelve foot above the ground: under these rooms, are the conveniencies for the family; and above them, other rooms which may serve for granaries, and also for places to lodge in on occasion. The principal stairs are in the fore front of the house, and answer under the portico’s of the court,

In Pogliana, a village, is the following fabrick of the Cavalier Pocriana. Its rooms Plate have been adorned with paintings and most beautiful stucco’s, by Mester BERNARDINO India, and Mester Anselmo CANERA, Veronese painters, and by Mester BatoLomeo Ridolfi, a Veronese sculptor. The large rooms are one square, and two thirds long, and are vaulted. The square ones have the lunetti in their angles. Over the finall rooms there are mezati, The high of the hall, is one half more than it is broad; and even with the height of the loggia the hall is vaulted 2 fascia, and the loggia & crociere, Over all these places are the granaries, and underneath them the cellars and the kitchen, because the floor is raised five foot above ground. On one side it has the court, and other places for the necessaries of a villa; on the other there is a garden, which answers to the said court; and backwards a kitchen-garden, and a sith-pond: so that this gentleman, as he is magnificent, and of most noble mind, has not spared any of those ornaments, or any of the conveniencies possible, that might render this place of his, beautiful, delightful, and commodious.

At Lifiera, a place near Vicenza, is the following fabrick, built by Signor FRANCESCO Plate VALMARANA, of happy memory. The loggia’s are of the Ionick order: the columns have a square base under them, which goes round the house. Level with this height is the floor of the loggia’s, and of the rooms, which are all with flat ceilings. In the angles of the house there are four towers, which are vaulted. ‘The hall is vaulted a fascia

This fabrick has two courts; one forward, for the use of the master, and the other backward, where the corn is threshed: and has covertures, in which are accommodated all the places belonging to the use of a villa,

The following fabrick was begun by Count Francesco, and Count Lodovico DE Plate Trissini, brothers, at Meledo, a village in the Vicemine, The situation is very beautiful, because it is upon a hill, which is washed by an agreeable little river, in the middle of a very spacious plain, and near to a well frequented road. Upon the summit of the hill, there is bea round hall, encompassed with the rooms, but high, that it may receive its light from above them. There are some half columns in the hall, that support a gallery, into which one goes from the rooms above; which by reason they are but seven feet high, serve for mezati. Under the floor ofthe first rooms, there are the kitchens, servant’s halls, and other places. And because every front has a very beautiful prospect, there are four loggia’s, of the Corinthian order; above the frontispieces of which the cupola of the hall rises. The loggia’s that tend to the circumference, form an agreeable prospect. Nearer to the plain, are the hay-lofts, the cellars, the stables, the granaries, the places for the farmer, and other rooms for the use of the villa. The columns of these portico’s are of the Tuscan order. Over the river, in the angles of the court, are two dove-houses.

Tire under-placed fabrick is at Gampiglia, a place in the Vicentine, and belongs to Signor Mario Repeta, who has executed, in this fabrick, the will of his father, Signor Francesco, of happy memory. The columns of the portico’s are of the Dorick order: the intercolumniations are four diameters of a column, In the extream angles of the roof, where the loggia’s, are seen without the whole body of the house, there are two dove-houses, and the loggia, On the flank, opposite to the stables, there are rooms, of which, some are fill dedicated to continency, others to justice, and others to other virtues, with elogiums and paintings adapted to the subject; part of which is the work of Messer BarTista Ma-GANZA, a Vicentine painter, and an excellent poet. This was done, that this gentleman, who very courtioufly receives all those who go and see him, may lodge his visitors and friends in the rooms inscribed to that virtue to which he thinks them mostly inclined. This fabrick has this conveniency, that ene can go every where under cover. And because the part for the master’s dwelling, and shat for the ase of the villa, are of the same order; 52 SECOND BO OK.

as much at that loses in grandeur, for not being more eminent than this, so much this of the villa increases in its proper ornament and dignity, by being made equal to that of the master, which adds beauty to the whole work. 45. THE following fabrick belongs to the Count Oleardo and Count Tueoporo pe Them1, brothers, and is at Cigogna, his villa; which fabrick was begun by Count France their father. The hall is in the middle of the house, and has round it some Ionick columns, over which there is a gallery, level with the floor of the rooms above. The vault of this hall reaches up to the roof. The large rooms are vaulted a /schiffo and the square ones d mezzo cadino and rise in such a manner, that they form four little towers in the angles of the fabrick. The small rooms have their mezati over them, the doors of which answer to the middle of the stairs. The stairs are without a wall in the middle; and because the hall by receiving the light from above, is very clear, these also have light enough: as they are void in the middle besides, they also receive light from above. In one of the covertures, on the sides of the court, there are the cellars, and the granaries; on the other, the stables, and the places for a villa. Those two loggia’s, which like arms come out of the fabrick, are made to join the master’s house with that of the villa, Near this fabrick, there are two courts of old building, with portico’s; the one to threth the cornin, and the other for the under part of the family. 46. THE following fabrick belongs to the Count Giacomo Angarano, and was built by him at his villa at Angarano in the Vicentine. On the sides of the court there are the colors, granaries, places to make wines, places for the farmer, stables, dove-house; and farther, in one part of the court, places for the necessaries of a villa; and on the other a garden. The muster’s house, which is placed in the middle, is vaulted in the lower part, and in that above deled. The small rooms above, as well as those below, have mezati. Near to this fabrick the Brenta runs, a river abounding with excellent fish. This place is cele for the good wines that are made there, and the fruits that grow there, but much more for the courtesy of the master. 4;. Tux designs that follow, are of the fabrick belonging to Count Ottavie THIENE, at Quinto, his villa. It was begun by the Count Marc Antonio, his father, of Lappy memory, and by Count an, his uncle. The situation is very beautiful, having on one part the Tesma, and on the other a branch of the said river, which is pretty large. This palace has a loggia before the gate, of the Dorick order: through this one passes into another loggia, and from that into a court, which has on the sides two loggia’s; on the one, and on the otherend of these loggia’s, are the apartments or rooms, some of which have been adorned with paintings by Master Giovanni Indemio VINCENT INO, man of a very fine genius. Opposite to the entrance one finds a loggia, like that at the entrance; from which one enters into an atrio of four columns; and from that into the court, which has portico’s of the Dorick order, and serves for the use of the villa, There are no principal stairs that correspond with the whole fabrick, because the part above is intended only for stores, and places for servants.

AT Lends, a place in the Vicentine, is the following fabrick, belonging to Signor G1ROLAMO DE Godi1. It is placed upon a hill that has a beautiful prospect, and near a river that serves for a sith-pond. To make this place commodious for the use of a villa, courts have been made, and roads upon vaults, at no small expence. The fabrick in the middle, is for the habitation of the master, and of the family. The master’s rooms have their floor thirteen feet high from the ground, and are with ceilings; over these are the granaries, and the part underneath, that is, in the height of the thirteen foot, are disposed the cellars, the places to make wines, the kitchens, and such like other places. The hall reaches, in height up to the roof, and has two rows of windows. On either side of this body of the fabrick, there are courts, and the covered places for the necessaries of a villa. This fabrick has been adorned with paintings of a beautiful invention by Master Guar Titra Papovano, by Messer Battista DEL Moro VERONESE, and by Master Battista Venetian. Because this gentleman, who is a very judicious man, in order to bring it to all the excellency and perfection possible, has not spared any cost, and has pitched on the most singular and excellent painters of our time,

AT Santa Sofa, a place five miles from Verona, is the following fabrick belonging to Signor Conte Marc Antonio Sarego. It is placed in a very beautiful situation, that is, upon a hill of a most easy ascent, which discovers a part of the city, and between two small vales. All the hills about it are very agreeable, and abound with most excellent water therefore this fabrick is adorned with gardens and marvellous fountains. This place, for its agreeableness, was the delights of the Seinora Darra Scale; and by some vestigia, that

SECOND BOOK 53 are there to be seen, one may comprehend, that in the time of the Romans, it was also held by the antients in no small esteem,

The part of this house which serves for the use of the master, and of the family, has a court, round which are portico’s. The columns are of the Ionick order, made of unpoished stones; as it should seem a villa requires, to which plain simple things are more suitable than those that delicate. These columns support the outward cornice, that forms a gutter; into which the water falls from the roof. Behind these columns, that is, under the portico’s, there are pilasters which support the pavement of the loggia above, that is, of the second floor. In this second floor there are two halls, the one opposite to the other; the largeness of which is expressed in the design of the plan, with lines that interfe@ one another, and are drawn from the outward walls of the fabrick to the columns. On the side of this court is that for the use of the villa; on the one and on the other part of which, there are covertures for those conveniencies that are required in villas.

The following fabrick belongs to Signor Conte Anibale SAREGO, ata place in the Colognefe, called Jz Migs. A pedestal, four foot and a half high, forms a basement to the whole fabrick; and at this height is the pavement of the first rooms; under which there are the cellars, the kitchens, and other rooms for the use of the family. The said first rooms are vaulted, and the second ceiled. Near this fabrick there is the court for the necessaries of a villa, with all those places that are suitable to such a use.