Venetian Villas near Treviso: A Guide to the Marca's Estates (2026)

The most authentic, less crowded part of the villa landscape can be found among the Venetian villas near Treviso. The Marca (the historic name for the hinterland of Treviso) has been home to dozens of country houses built by the Venetian nobility from the 16th through to the 18th century. Today, as you wander up and down hill or across plain, you will see these many buildings. There are two Palladian masterpieces here -- Villa Barbaro in Maser and Villa Emo in Fanzolo; however there are many other smaller villas here too which often have families living within them now where instead of being museums - people live there. In this travel guide we look at all of the Venetian villas worth visiting in the province of Treviso that have been organized geographically along with some helpful advice on how to plan your visits.

In brief

• The province of Treviso holds some of the most authentic and least crowded Venetian villas in the whole region.
• Two unmissable Palladian villas: Villa Barbaro (Maser) and Villa Emo (Fanzolo di Vedelago).
• It pays to think by area: the hills of Maser–Asolo, the plain around Vedelago, and the countryside near Treviso itself.
• Many houses open only on set days or by appointment: always check before setting off.

Why choose the villas of the Treviso countryside

In contrast to the more crowded and local (to Venice) Brenta Riviera, the Venetian villas of the Treviso province provide an intimate setting. The agricultural landscape of this area is easily readable through its vineyards, irrigation ditches, rows of trees etc., allowing for villa visits with much less crowd. Additionally it was in the Treviso Province that Andrea Palladio created two of his masterpieces and where many artists continued on as interpreters for the frescoed villa including Paolo Veronese and Battista Zelotti. To get a broader look at the subject visit our general article about the Venetian villas worth visiting; this one takes place inside of the Marca region.

The hills of Maser and Asolo

This is the noble heart of the Treviso countryside. At the foot of the Montello and towards the Asolo hills, the most celebrated villas are concentrated.

Villa Barbaro at Maser represents the pinnacle; designed by Palladio for the Barbaro brothers, the house features a fresco cycle by Paolo Veronese that is one of the most significant examples of Renaissance art and a dramatic nymphaeum. The villa is still lived in and is open to visitors on set days. Nearby, towards Asolo there are other villas which have survived but with less grandeur than those just mentioned: e.g., Villa Rinaldi (Casella d'Asolo) with an Italian formal garden.

Photo: polutropon_95 / Wikimedia Commons — CC BY 3.0

The plain of Vedelago

Descending towards the plain, between Montebelluna and Castelfranco, you reach the province's second great Palladian villa.

Villa Emo located at Fanzolo di Vedelago, is probably the most clear example of the Palladian style: a single house with an upper portion which has a pedimented facade; long arcades called barchesse which are used for farming purposes; and, interior frescoes painted by Battista Zelotti. The sequence of ramp, loggia and barchesse clearly illustrates how the Venetian villa was not only an operational estate but also a venue for display. Another villas in the same municipality of Vedelago is Villa Corner della Regina located at Cavasagra; it has been modified in the eighteenth century after being built in the sixteenth and represents one of the examples of this transition from strict Palladianism to greater opulence of taste found in the later century.

Photo: Querilinto / Wikimedia Commons — Public domain

The countryside around Treviso

In the area around the provincial capital, on a plain crossed by spring fed waterways, are some of the most genuine villas: lesser-known (and therefore) often still inhabited; bound to the cultivation of the land. It is here, at Vascon di Carbonera, that Villa Loredan Valier Perocco di Meduna lies : a principal dwelling constructed between the 17th century and 18th century; two arcaded barchesse; an 18th century oratory and a frescoed hall; within a park supplied by resurgent spring water. The villa can be visited by appointment and hosts receptions as well as events; its history and those in the gallery capture exquisitely illustrate the trend of Treviso country house, which saw aristocratic Venetians combine their summer vacations with managing their lands.

The villas of Treviso compared

How to plan your visit

A few small precautions make the day easier:

1. Think by area. Group nearby villas together: Maser and Asolo on one day, the Vedelago area on another, the Treviso countryside separately.
2. Book and check the hours. Many houses are lived in or privately run and open only on certain days or by appointment.
3. Mark the Day of the Venetian Villas in your calendar, when even normally closed houses open their doors.
4. Pair a "lived-in" villa with the famous names. Alongside the great sites, a house still inhabited in the Treviso countryside restores the original sense of the Venetian villa.

FAQ

Which are the most beautiful Venetian villas to visit near Treviso? The two unmissable ones are Villa Barbaro at Maser, for the Veronese frescoes, and Villa Emo at Fanzolo di Vedelago, for its Palladian architectural perfection. Alongside them, lesser-known houses such as Villa Corner della Regina or Villa Loredan Valier Perocco di Meduna offer a more intimate experience.

Can the villas of the Treviso province be visited all year round? It depends on the individual villa. Some, like Villa Emo, have regular opening hours; others, often still lived in, open only in certain periods or by appointment. It is always worth checking the villa's official website before setting off.

How many Venetian villas are there in the province of Treviso? The Regional Institute for Venetian Villas records thousands of houses across the Veneto and Friuli-Venezia Giulia; the Marca Trevigiana counts several hundred, of which only a portion open regularly to the public.

In summary

To experience the region away from the hordes of tourists, visit the numerous Venetian villas near Treviso, specifically those designed by Andrea Palladio and other lesser known homes. Visit two of his masterpieces (Villa Barbaro and Villa Emo) as well as smaller homes at Vedelago and the countryside around the capital. Think about a specific geographic area each time you travel; plan ahead when booking tours and make sure to include one villa where people continue to live; that is where you will find true history - it is found within barchesse, oratories and park fed by springs that create the foundation of what we call the Marca.

Sources: Regional Institute for Venetian Villas (IRVV), Marca Treviso — Tourism. Opening hours and access arrangements are indicative: always check the official websites of the individual villas before visiting.