The project

A long weekend to discover and experience the Venetian and Friulian Villas

What is it?

It is a national event entirely dedicated to the Venetian Villas, telling the story of the ‘Villa Civilization’ through immersive experiences: tours, tastings, stays, workshops, readings, artistic performances, holistic activities, conferences, and exclusive meetings.

What are we doing?

Visitors and guests can discover the Venetian Villas through active participation in themed experiences, selected based on their individual interests or the region they wish to explore – all within a single weekend.

Following the success of the fourth edition (which drew over 18,000 visitors in just two days), the Associazione per Le Ville Venete – APS and the IRVV (Regional Institute for Venetian Villas) are launching the fifth edition of the event, scheduled for October 17 and 18, 2026. The initiative continues its shared mission to showcase the historical, artistic, literary, agricultural, and social heritage of Venetian Villas.

“Giornata delle Ville Venete” celebrates the Venetian Villa by promoting its identity as a “Living Home”—a unique cultural reality unlike any other in the world. This journey to discover the “Villa Civilization” actively engages visitors. By participating in exclusive hands-on activities, attendees transform from passive observers into active protagonists—an evolution made possible only through firsthand experience.

The Venetian Villas will share their history, art, culture, architecture, craftsmanship, and surrounding nature through guided tours, walks, concerts, workshops, tastings, overnight stays, and many other experiences that will connect participants with the Venetian Villa of yesterday, today, and tomorrow

The range of activities offered

Heritage

The traditional and well-known activities of a Venetian villa, offered exclusively: a guided tour with the owner, a costume historical reenactment, and an in-depth story enriched with family anecdotes.

Family

Family and kid-friendly activities: workshops, treasure hunts, craft activities, and special tours for little ones.

Green

Outdoor and/or sustainability-themed activities: a guided tour of the park with a specialist, an autumn picnic, a photo shoot, and more.

Wine&Food

Activities that feature a food and wine experience. To this day, many Venetian Villas preserve their culinary and winemaking heritage intact through wine production, offering cellar tours, tastings of local farm produce, vineyard visits, as well as lunches, dinners, brunches, and afternoon snacks featuring the finest signature products of the Venetian Villas.

Dream

Dream stays to live a complete and immersive experience in an exclusive Venetian Villa.

Wellbeing

The Venetian Villas promote true well-being, helping you restore your mind-body balance through a unique blend of holistic, transformative energy rooted in beauty, nature, and landscape. Here, you will find curated experiences designed to reconnect you with your inner self.

Villa Life

It offers a unique experience—a true journey back in time that connects you to the soul and history of the Venetian Villas. You will relive daily life as it unfolded in these historic residences across different eras, discovering the traditions, crafts, and lifestyle of those who lived there as you immerse yourself in an authentic atmosphere that goes far beyond a typical visit.

What if it rains?

Created to offer you a wide choice of unique and engaging activities, even when the sun gives way to rain. In fact, rain can create a magical and evocative atmosphere, perfect for enjoying the timeless charm of the Venetian Villas. You will find a full range of indoor experiences and rainy-day activities - perhaps with umbrellas and galoshes in hand - turning every moment into an opportunity for discovery.

Landscape

Landscape is nature, territory, history, and culture. Landscape is architecture—an architecture made of lime and bricks, arches and vaults, but also of traditions, habits, and customs. The landscape is an integral part of the Venetian Villas, which were designed to blend harmoniously with everything around them. Here, you will find experiences that speak of this bond, a narrative that has endured for over 5 centuries.

Plan your
Venetian Villas Day
with a selection of suggested itineraries.

If you want to spend an entire weekend immersing yourself in the world of the Venetian Villas (perhaps even staying in one!), or if you want to pack as many experiences as possible into a single day (Saturday or Sunday), check out our suggested itineraries.

The program

The 5th edition of the Venetians Villas Day kicks off early this year on the morning of Wednesday, September 16, with a public conference titled “Horizons Beyond Borders”, dedicated to exploring various themes surrounding the Venetian Villas, this year’s conference will be hosted in a stunning Venetian palace.

This year’s event aims to explore the importance of clearly communicating the identity and unique characteristics of the Venetian Villas. In a fast-paced modern society that desensitizes us with superficial stimuli and flattens reality, finding one’s voice and making it resonate clearly and effectively is more necessary than ever.

This is why this year’s edition will focus on “Venetian Villa Algorithm – The salience of the Venetian Villa as a cure for our time”.

The full program for the day will be published in the coming months, but please keep in mind that admission to the conference is free, seating is limited, and registration is required. We recommend keeping an eye on our website and social media channels so you can reserve your spot as soon as registration opens.

The Venetian Villas Day will culminate on Saturday, October 17, and Sunday, October 18, when the villas open their doors to the public with a wide range of scheduled events.

The goal is to promote experiential and sustainable tourism that puts the human, environmental, historical, and artistic value of the Venetian Villas at its core.

Why dedicated an entire weekend to the Venetian Villas?

Promote the distinctiveness and culture of the Venetian Villas: unique and priceless, rich in history, and unlike any other context.
Bring together under a single day the diverse thematic experiences that Venetian Villas have to offer.
Highlight what the Venetian Villa is “Now”, in the present, focusing on the comprehensive services it offers to today’s visitor.
Use the Venetian Villa and its experiences as a way to restore personal well-being through beauty in a convivial setting.
Enjoy exclusive visits to select Venetian Villas, guided directly by their owners.
Increase domestic and local tourism during the off-peak season.
Share the Venetian Villas not only through visitor promotion and awareness, but also from a business perspective among the villa owners themselves.

In four years of editions, we have counted

Participants in the Venetian Villas Day

Suggested experiences

Venetian Villas