Villa Foscari «La Malcontenta»
Villa by Andrea Palladio on the Brenta, with 16th-century frescoes on the noble floor, open on set days and at set times.
Have only individual sections read aloud
About the museum
The villa was designed by Andrea Palladio for Nicolò and Alvise Foscari after his last journey to Rome, in 1554. It develops over three floors with distinct functions: services on the ground floor, reception rooms on the noble floor, and storerooms for agricultural produce at the top. The building is symmetrical, so that each of the two clients had an independent apartment of three rooms, and in the centre opens a cross-vaulted hall used in common. Towards the Brenta stands out an Ionic hexastyle portico that recalls a Roman temple; the decorations, usually in stone, are here in terracotta.
The noble floor is decorated with a cycle of frescoes carried out in several phases. Battista Franco worked on them and died leaving the work unfinished; he was followed by Battista Zelotti, a collaborator of Paolo Veronese, and by Bernardino India, author of the grotesque decorations in the smaller rooms. The ceiling of the hall illustrates the myth of Astraea, while in the larger rooms Prometheus and Aurora on her chariot appear.
During the 19th century the outbuildings were demolished and the villa remained isolated, as it had been originally. In 1924 it was bought by Albert Clinton Landsberg, who began the reorganisation of the outdoor spaces. Today it is a private residence, protected by the Italian state and included in the UNESCO World Heritage List.
Highlights
- Design by Andrea Palladio with an Ionic hexastyle portico
- Cross-vaulted hall on the noble floor
- Frescoes by Battista Franco, Battista Zelotti and Bernardino India
- Ceiling with the myth of Astraea
- Grotesque decorations in the smaller rooms
- UNESCO site
- Founded
- 1559
- Operated by
- La Malcontenta S.r.l.
Admission & discounts
| Adults | €15 |
|---|---|
| Reduced | €10students aged 18 to 25, FAI and ICOM members, residents of the Comune di Mira |
| Children & teens | €8free up to age 10 · Young people aged 11 to 17; free up to age 10 if accompanied by parents. |
| Visitors with disabilities | freecompanion free · During visiting hours, people with mobility disabilities and their companion are admitted free to the park; they cannot go up to the noble floor, because of architectural barriers that cannot be overcome. |
| Students & apprentices | €10Students aged 18 to 25 |
| Groups (20+ people) | €12 per personGroups by reservation |
| Families | €302 adults with minor children (under 18) |
Payment by card reader (POS) is recommended. Free admission for tour guides with a regional licence, accredited journalists and the accompanying teacher of school groups (minimum 20 pupils).
Accessibility
- Partially wheelchair accessible
- Elevator: no information
- Accessible restroom: no information
- Accessible parking: no information
- Service dogs welcome: no information
- Tactile models & exhibits: no information
- Sign language tours: no information
- Easy-to-read materials: no information
- Audio description: no information
The park is accessible to people with mobility disabilities; the noble floor cannot be reached because of architectural barriers that cannot be overcome.
Kids & families
| Kids’ admission | free up to age 10 |
|---|---|
| Family ticket | €30 · 2 adults with minor children (under 18) |
Free admission for children up to 10 years old accompanied by their parents, reduced ticket for young people aged 11 to 17, and family ticket.
Getting there & parking
By public transit
By bus (timetables on the villa's website). From Venice you can reach the Fusina terminal and continue by bus to Malcontenta; alternatively there are river services along the Brenta (Il Burchiello, Battelli del Brenta, Delta Tour, Navigazione Tiepolo Tour).
By car
No on-site parking at the museum.
There is no parking in the immediate vicinity of the villa; cars can be left in the village car parks.
In the satnav you must enter “Piazza Malcontenta di Mira”, not Villa Foscari. The villa is reached on foot from Via dei Turisti, a pedestrian-only road. Alternatively you can arrive by taxi or by bicycle.
Get directionsAmenities & dining
- Museum shop
During opening hours a bookshop is available on the ground floor.
Events & venue rental
The museum hasn’t published any information on this.
Plan your visit
| Guided tours | yes |
|---|---|
| Audio guide | yes |
| School programs | yes |
| Good to know | Audio guide as a web app on the website lamalcontenta.it. An official guide, on request, must be booked separately. School groups must book at least 10 days in advance with the form downloadable from the website. |
