The Roots of the Valmarana Family
The origins of the Valmarana family date back to ancient times, with the first documented records appearing in 1174. By the 14th century, the family tree had branched into three distinct lines. One of these, the San Faustino branch, purchased the Villa from the Bertolo family in 1720, and it remains under Valmarana ownership to this day.
Throughout the centuries, the Valmarana family has maintained a profound connection to art and culture. The renowned architect Andrea Palladio, supported by the Valmarana family, reconstructed the Basilica of Vicenza in 1561 and, five years later, designed the palace on Corso Fogazzaro for Leonardo Valmarana. Palladio is also responsible for the stunning Valmarana Chapel in the crypt of the Santa Corona Church and the Valmarana Loggia at Porta Castello.
Their legacy extends beyond art, encompassing significant contributions to social initiatives.
The Valmaranas have been among Vicenza’s most influential families, forging alliances with other prominent lineages such as the Piovene, Fogazzaro, Roi, and Thiene families. Men of culture and politics, they have held key positions in public life. Gaetano Valmarana (1803–1874) served as Mayor and Provincial Deputy; Giustino (1849–1873) was a member of the City Council and Municipal Board; his son Angelo (1874–1915) became Mayor of Vicenza, whose untimely death deeply moved the city.
Giustino Valmarana (1898–1977), owner of the Villa’s Foresteria, served as a Senator for the Christian Democracy Party from 1946 to 1963, as well as Undersecretary of State and Member of the European Parliament. He is renowned for preventing, alongside Minister Bottai, the transfer of the Villa’s frescoes to Paris under Mussolini’s orders. His son, Angelo Valmarana (1925–2004), played a crucial role as custodian of the Foresteria.
Tommaso Valmarana (1909–1991), owner of the Palazzina, was a passionate advocate of sports and a committed social activist. As a notary in Vicenza, he founded the Blood Donors Association and presided over Calcio Vicenza, the Vicenza Tennis Club, and the local chapter of the Italian Alpine Club (CAI). His wife, Maria Sofia, devoted her life to lovingly preserving and caring for the Palazzina.
Great Encounters
Villa Valmarana ai Nani has been, over the centuries, a cultural hub for writers, artists, and scholars. Moreover, in the past hundred years, the Villa has attracted noble families from across Europe, eager to admire the works of the Tiepolo masters.
The openness of its owners has allowed Villa Valmarana to become a place of great charm and inspiration. In his diary on September 24, 1786, J.W. Goethe praised the sublime style of Giambattista Tiepolo in the rooms of the Palazzina, while recognizing the more naturalistic style of Giandomenico Tiepolo in the Foresteria, being the first to distinguish the different hands behind these extraordinary works.
Antonio Fogazzaro, husband of Rita Valmarana, set his famous novel Piccolo Mondo Moderno in the rooms of the Palazzina. Guido Piovene, son of Stefania Valmarana, dedicated a magnificent introduction to Villa Valmarana in his work The Metaphysics of the Senses (1968).
Among others, Goffredo Parise was also a visitor, reportedly drawing inspiration from Senator Giustino Valmarana for the protagonist of Il Prete Bello.
The Villa preserves a collection of signatures and photographs documenting visits from royalty, politicians, intellectuals, and artists such as the Queen Mother of England, King Albert II of Belgium with Queen Paola, and the royals of the Netherlands, Sweden, and Denmark, as well as Albert Camus, Paul Morand, Truman Capote, Salvador Dalí, Peggy Guggenheim, Cesare Pavese, Ignazio Silone, Frank Sinatra, Cesare Zavattini, and Luchino Visconti.
These illustrious visitors confirm the Villa as a center of culture, art, and history that continues to captivate and inspire.
