SHARRYLAND
Villa Da Porto Barbaran
A ghostly mansion comes back to life in the light of bonfires, and a white silhouette wanders nearby
Where is
What it is and where it is
Four tall and mighty Doric columns support the central triangular pediment. But it is by slowly widening your gaze, starting from the elegant staircase leading to the entrance, that you can admire the true beauty of this architectural complex. The villa, built near the town of Montorso Vicentino at the foot of the Colle della Fratta, is among the grandest of those commissioned by the Da Porto counts between the 16th and 18th centuries. The inscription above the central door tells us that the villa was built between 1662 and 1724, and confirming this is a table from the project in which the year 1712 is shown.
Why it is special
The long right wing remains a little further back to give maximum prominence to the central body, but it becomes clear to our eyes that something is missing-something that has been lost or left behind throughout history. In fact, the original plan showed in the western part a wing of equal shape and development, which would have given the villa total balance and harmony, and in fact a study attests that in the past the east wing and west wing were in perfect symmetry. Although incomplete today, Villa Da Porto thus represents one of the most extensive of the Venetian villas.
Not to be missed
Imagine entering a large courtyard with many statues, over the years destroyed or alienated, positioned to adorn the little wall of fencing and the verdant garden surrounding the majestic structure. We ascend the steps and enter the interior of the villa, which is carefully decorated with paintings and sumptuous furnishings. Today there is nothing left of all this, but at numerous events it is still possible to walk among these exceptionally high walls, relive the evocative atmosphere of the past and, who knows, maybe even meet the famous ghost of Luigi Da Porto!
A bit of history
You may not believe it, but the famous Romeo and Juliet novella has its roots right here in the town of Montorso Vicentino. It was 1524 when the poet and soldier Luigi Da Porto, taking refuge in his old country home after a serious war wound, wrote one of the most poignant love stories of all time. As a letter addressed to his friend Pietro Bembo testifies, it was the literary Da Porto who in fact gave inspiration to one of Shakespeare's greatest masterpieces--did you know that?
Trivia
There is a legend in the village that seems to have the far-fetched. It seems that there are many citizens of Montorso who have seen him over the years, and always in the same places, near the Villa and along the road leading to the Colle della Fratta. We are talking about the ghost of Luigi Da Porto! Testifying to this are the photos taken by Mirella Pieropan on the occasion of the Feast of San Biagio a few years ago: in one of them, two smoky whitish silhouettes seem to resemble just the count riding his steed!
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