Riviera del Brenta, the cruise in Burchiello between the Venetian Villas is the most fascinating excursion that can be done from Padua: my account of the navigation on the Naviglio del Brenta that connects the city of Santo with Venice.

Riviera del Brenta, Cruise in Burchiello between the Venetian Villas

A slow journey of a whole day, at the slow pace of the river, which is at the same time a dive in the history of the Serenissima. The cruise in Burchiello along the Riviera del Brenta is an experience of great charm, which I dreamed of doing for a long time and finally had the opportunity during my recent stay in Padua.

Immersed in the gentle river landscape of Naviglio del Brenta, for centuries one of the main waterways of the region, you can admire the magnificent Villas Venete where the Venetian aristocracy spent long summer vacations between ozis, leisures and sumptuous country parties.

To make the excursion truly complete there is also the possibility, during special stops along the route, to visit some of the most significant and famous villas of the Riviera del Brenta.

The Burchiello

The Burchine, the most famous boat sailing today along the Riviera del Brenta, is a modern motorboat that takes back the name of the ancient boat that in the past centuries was used by the Venetian aristocracy to reach the villas of mainland.

At the time when in Veneto it was preferable to use the waterways for the transport of people and goods of all kinds, the main boat to navigate the shallow waters of the lagoon and the ship was the burger (or burcio, in veneto), a sort of barge from the flat bottom.

But for the nobles a special boat was set up, with lots of comfortable cabins richly decorated, in short, a "nice butter", from which the name of Burchiello was derived, on which famous characters such as Carlo Goldoni, Giacomo Casanova and Wolfgang Goethe traveled, who spoke about it in his "Viaggio in Italia"

Riviera del Brenta

The boarding of our cruise in Burchiello is from Porta Portello, in the center of Padua, and after a short navigation in the urban area, past the major course of the river Brenta, you enter the Naviglio del Brenta, a smaller branch of the river that flows to Fusina, in Venice Lagoon.

This is the stretch known as the Riviera del Brenta, on whose banks rise about 70 vintage Venetian villas (but in the past were many more), some still inhabited by the owners, others transformed into hotels, exhibition centers, or abandoned, in ruins. Others, the most stunning and representative are open to the public and visitable, witnesses of the glorious time of the Venetian holiday.

Villa Pisani

The first we visit is Villa Pisani in Stra, dazzling in his magnificence, as well as being known as the "Duke Palace of the mainland".

In fact, to call villa this fabulous building built in the first half of the 1700s by one of the most powerful and wealthy Venetian families, is decidedly reductive, since it is a real palace with over a hundred rooms and lounges that contain priceless works of art.

Poderose sculptures adorn the facade while the interiors are decorated by the most famous artists of the '700 veneto, including the Tiepolo, author of the fresco on the ceiling of the grandiose ballroom that celebrates the "Gloria della Famiglia Pisani" and that was the last work of the painter in Italy.

Villa Pisani Park

In addition to the interior of the villa, the park of Villa Pisani is worth a visit, extending over a surface of 10 hectares in a wide stretch of Brenta.

The scenic impact of the central parterre crossed by the long tub that ideally connects the palace with the monumental stables is to say little magnificent. Although the greatest attraction of the Villa Pisani park, today as a time, is represented by 18th century maze, consisting of nine concentric rings of hedges of bosses, created for the leisure of the lords and their guests.

What to see in Dolo in Riviera del Brenta

Leaving Villa Pisani, we continue navigation towards Dolo, the main center of the Riviera del Brenta, which is announced with the unspoilt bell tower of the cathedral, among the highest in Italy, which recalls that of Piazza San Marco in Venice.

The historic center of the town has developed on a river island, where in the past there were also the warehouses of what was once considered the barn of Venice.

In the large water mill of 16th century origin, today transformed into a bar-restaurant but with the wheel still working, cereals and grains were ground in abundance for the Serenissima. Dolo has been a centre of great importance for centuries for the presence of Monumental Squero, the shipyard for the shelter and repair of boats.

A Dolo meet one of the five navigation conche of Naviglio del Brenta, real water lifts made with the system of closed wins, which allow the boats to exceed the natural differences of the watercourse, for a total of about 10 meters overall, by lowering (in our case, since we travel downhill) or controlled rise of the water level inside the basin itself.

A little further, the historical Locanda alla Posta it reminds us that before the advent of the engines were instead the horses to pull the burchi that navigated againstcurrent and since the 16th century this was one of the points of stop and change of the shooting animals.

Between Dolo and Mira is the highest concentration of Ville Venete della Riviera del Brenta, which line both sides of the ship almost seamlessly. Admiring the beautiful facades it is understood why the Riviera del Brenta was considered a kind of continuation of the Grand Canal of Venice in the mainland.

In this section we also pass some of the nine revolving bridges built from the 1800s to allow the crossing of the river without interfering with navigation.

Villa Widmann-Rezzonico-Foscari

Shortly after Mira, stop at Villa Widmann-Rezzonico-Foscari, typical 18th century summer residence dedicated to pleasures and fun, in French roco style with a delicious secular park. The heart of this villa of beautiful proportions is the central hall richly frescoed, where it is not hard to imagine the sumptuous dance parties allied by the music of the string quartets arranged on the upper ballatoio.

While the garden often hosted theatrical performances, including the bright comedies by Carlo Goldoni, personal friend of the hosts and therefore often guest of the villa.

Reach Oriago just in time for the break lunch at the Restaurant Burchiello. The meal is not included in the ticket of the cruise, but it is booked separately, at an agreed price, and it is definitely worth it. After a morning of navigation and visits, you get definitely hungry and a nice menu of fish (or, alternatively, meat or vegetarian) is what it takes.

Villa Foscari – La Malcontenta

The next stage is at Villa Foscari – La Malcontenta, which appears between the steep vegetation of groves and weeping willows in all its elegance and monumentality. Head of work Andrea Palladio, it mirrors superb in the waters of the Brenta ship with its unmistakable architecture of villa temple, with the loggia resting on a high base and the ionic columns supporting the timpano.

Registered on the list World Heritage Unesco together with the Villas Palladian of Veneto, the most famous of the Venetian Villas of the Riviera del Brenta was built in the mid 1500s by the brothers Nicolò and Alvise Foscari, descendants of the doge Francesco Foscari, as a summer residence that mirrored the prestige of the powerful family.

The origin of the nickname Malcontenta is not clear: it would be attributable to a lady who was segregated there because of her marital infidelity, or perhaps it is only a legend.

The villa is inhabited by the current owners, so at the moment only the noble floor is open to the public. However, it is worth visiting it to admire, in addition to the beauty of the interior, the splendid mythological frescoes that decorate the walls of the central hall.

We are now near the lagoon of Venice, from which we separate Chiusa di Moranzani, the last of the sailing basins of the Riviera del Brenta, beyond which opens the magical scenery of basin of S.Marco. And there could be no more suggestive conclusion of our cruise on the Burchiello between the Venetian Villas of the Riviera del Brenta.

Sleep in the Venetian Villas of the Riviera del Brenta

If after the cruise in Burchiello you want to sleep in an authentic villa on the Riviera del Brenta, you only have the embarrassment of choice. In fact, there are many historic residences transformed into a charming hotel or b&b where you can relive the atmosphere of the Venetian holiday, for one or more nights.

Hotel Villa Ducale in Dolo (Ve)

An elegant 19th century villa surrounded by a park right next to the boat, is the ideal solution to discover the beauty of the Riviera del Brenta. The hotel has 11 rooms decorated with antique furniture and refined fabrics, all overlooking the secular park. Vintage furniture, chandeliers and mirrors of Murano, stuccoes and fireplaces make the environments particularly welcoming.

Relais et Chateaux Villa Franceschi in Mira (Ve)

Noble 16th century jewelers of the Doge with 25 rooms and suites immersed in a secular park of 45 thousand square meters. Villa Franceschi is a Relais et Chateaux, always a favourite retreat from the Venetian aristocracy, and still today attracts many VIPs in search of privacy.

The Dal Corso family has been hosting its mission for three generations, welcoming guests in this beautifully restored architectural jewel, but still retaining the ancient splendor. The restaurant Margherita is the realm of Remigio Dal Corso, patron and chef of the house, which for its creations uses the products of the organic garden of the residence and the lagoon.

Romantik Hotel Villa Margherita in Mira (VE)

Just 15 km from Venice, the Romantik Hotel Villa Margherita welcomes guests with 19 rooms and suites furnished in the Venetian style of 1600, period of its construction, with fabrics of value, stuccos, frescoes, large mirrors, romantic environments that bring back the hands of the watch at the time of the Venetian holiday.

In the restaurant you can enjoy typical Venetian recipes based on fresh fish, rice and polenta, to be combined with the excellent selections of Veneto wines from the winery. The Romantik Hotel Villa Margherita is easily accessible by car and electric vehicles, as it has a Tesla charging station.