Villa+Saraceno

__VILLA SARACENO -Finale, Agugliaro (Vi)__ After many years of carelessness, Villa Saraceno has been recently turned to its original beauty after a well-done restoration. Ordered by Saraceno family in the XVIth century, it is a classical example of farm-villa, conceived like fulcrum of the agricultural attivity. Until 1400 the Saraceno, ancient Roman family, took possession of the countries of Finale, near Agugliaro. The villa, one of the first Palladio’s operas and so datable around 1545, strikes for the absolute purity of the forms, for the clear volumetric design. The façade is opened by three fling arcs, with simple decorations as the windows' and timpano’s frames. This frugality almost bare, also if pure and elegant, probably mirrors the concrete spirit of the Saraceno. The centre of the loggia vault shows the Allegory of the Wealth, maybe a propitiatory image, explicit reference to the faith of Venetian noble in landed investments. Obeying to the criterions of utility and functionality, Palladio built one of his more clear and pregnant creations, demonstrating that the real poetry doesn't originate from rich decorations but from the extreme simplicity of the language, from the harmonious accord that links an architecture to the landscape. The house is now available for holidays for up to 16 people through the Landmark Trust, a UK building preservation charity.