The Palladian Gardens

The gardens of Villa Godi Malinverni represent an extraordinary, unique testimony of Palladio as a garden architect. The Palladian gardens are divided into two parts: the first part is located in front of the villa, featuring formal gardens, flower beds, and an extensive statuary complex, while the rear part consists of a secret garden and a terraced garden divided into two levels. Unfortunately, the surrounding natural environment has radically changed over the centuries, and with it, the gardens of the complex. While the rear gardens have maintained their original spirit, offering a unique experience today, the reconstruction of the front gardens requires some imagination.

The Centuries-Old Park

The villa boasts an extraordinary historical park of vast dimensions, extending approximately 7 hectares to the rear of the villa, in harmony with the rear gardens. The park, with its centuries-old trees and 2,600 meters of pathways, was designed in 1852. The historic park we walk through and admire today is merely the latest version of a natural space that has changed appearance and function over the centuries.Today, the romantic park has become a destination and backdrop for numerous cultural events. It hosts walks and guided tours, as well as activities for schools and celebrations for public and private ceremonies.

Plants and Flowers

The park is home to approximately 1,400 tall trees, many of which are centuries old. The most common species found in the park are conifers, such as cedars, yews, and larch pines, some of which reach over 30 meters in height. In the area around the romantic pond, visitors can admire a majestic, centuries-old Ginkgo biloba and fantastic taxodium trees with their distinctive aerial roots (pneumatophores), typically used in historic parks near artificial lakes.

Descending from the villa, one can then immerse themselves in the "Corner of Magnolias", a breathtaking path through ancient magnolias, with their beautiful roots and grandeur, which envelop the viewer and transport them to another world, where tranquility reigns supreme. At the end of the park, one can stroll along an extraordinary avenue of cedars, retracing the route once taken by 19th-century carriages. The park is open to visitors throughout the year, particularly during the fantastic blooming periods of the numerous floral collections it contains, with more than 80,000 specimens planted.

In the spring (April-May), one can immerse themselves in the blooming tulips, daffodils, hyacinths, crocuses, and peonies, as well as enjoy the extraordinary collections of roses and antique roses in the gardens. During the summer, the park welcomes the blooming of iris collections, flowering reeds, and numerous clusters of hydrangeas scattered throughout the park.

Find out all the varieties of trees, shrubs and flowers in the park and gardens of Villa Godi Malinverni and have fun discovering them:

Statues and the Lemon House

The gardens and park are further enhanced by numerous statues of exceptional craftsmanship, reminding us of the passage of time and guiding us on a journey from the 17th century to the present day. The entire site features a statuary ensemble of 44 statues, scattered between the gardens and the park. These statues, now restored to their former splendor thanks to the restoration efforts of the "Palladio Gardens" project, date back to various historical periods. The first cycle dates to the 17th century, crafted by the Albanese workshop, which is responsible for the statues in the service area, immediately to the left of the villa entrance, depicting Neptune and Prudence, as well as the allegorical statues on the first step of the hanging garden. The statues and fountain adorning the front gardens, which dominate the current entrance, are also in the 17th and 18th-century styles, created by the artist Giuseppe Giordani, who worked at the villa in the early 20th century.
At the edge of the Villa Godi Malinverni garden, on the entrance pillars to the museums, there are two fantastic early 18th-century sculptures by Angelo Marinali, the younger brother of the more famous Orazio. The two figures, signed by the artist, represent Time, which, having halted its course, rests in position and yields to Eternity, to which it gazes. In the park, visitors can admire a small collection of 19th-century epitaphs in the "Corner of Memories" and a statue of a nymph that greets us by the beautiful romantic pond.

Between the barn and the dovecote is the ancient lemon house, also designed by Palladio, a space dedicated to the agricultural vocation of the property. In this area, lemons were placed during the colder months of the year. Today, the ancient lemon house has been repurposed to host educational, study, and research activities.

Contact us

Villa Godi Malinverni
Via A. Palladio, 44
36030 Lugo di Vicenza (VI) - Italia
Mail Villa, Park and Museum: info@villagodi.com
Mail Restaurant and Events: info@iltorchioantico.com
Palladium SAS - VAT: 12924220150

Villa Godi Malinverni - Progetto POC Regione Veneto - Ville Castelli e Dimore Storice