Villa di Montruglio "Pigafetta Camerini"

Villa Montruglio (Pigafetta – Camerini) majestically sits at the foot of the Berici hills, 18 km south of Vicenza.
Architect Francesco Antonio Muttoni built the villa itself at the end of the 17th century, while the portico of the “barchessa” follows shortly after (1710-14). The statues overlooking the façade have been ascribed to Orazio Marinali's workshop, while Francesco Aviani painted the frescoes in the main hall on the first floor.
A noble family from Vicenza, the Arnaldi, originally commissioned the Villa and it was later acquired by the Salvi family at the end of the 18th century. In 1862 it was finally purchased by Fanny Fava Camerini, the actual owners' great grandmother.
Duke Luigi Silvestro Camerini purposely maintained the clean essential cut of the large lawn in front of the villa, deciding not to reinstate the original Italian garden that was destroyed during the German occupation of the building during World War II. This allows a wider contemplation of the scenery from the height of the open view lawn.
Landscape architect Ermanno Casasco recently renovated the courtyard behind the “barchessa”.
The back façade of the villa overlooks the “brolo”, local Venetian expression for a private garden, where the lemon house was located until the end of 19th century.
The vast park originally initiated in the ‘800, comprising of centennial Lebanon cedar trees, oaks, cypresses and holm oak trees, surrounds the central buildings.
An extensive vineyard, home of the “Villa di Montruglio” wines, extends immediately behind the brolo for 10 acres.