Villa Sgaravatti, Albano Terme, Northern Italy, April 2017

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HughieD

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Villa Sgaravatti, Abano Terme, Northern Italy, April 2017

1. The History:
Situated in the countryside close to Giarre di Abano Terme, the Venitian Villa of Sgaravatti was built circa 1552, according to the façade of the villa. The courtyard complex is formed by the main building, the arches, the tower and the little oratory. The tiny church at the rear and the stables were added at the end of the 18th century. The tower is arguably the most impressive feature of the complex, was built in different periods, evident from its different architectural styles; the part containing the interior staircase ends with a cornice indicating eighteenth-century construction, while the upper section with exterior stairs, railings and a belvedere hints at nineteenth century Romanesque stylings.

It was owned by the Dondi dell'Orologio family and later by the Wollemborgs, a rich Jewish Paduan family of German origin until the 1920s. Most of the present Giarre was subsequently purchased by the Sgaravatti family of Padua, who used part of the land in front of Villa as a nursery.

The interior of the villa underwent major renovations in the early 1900s with the addition of bathrooms and service rooms while the east staircase was constructed and some windows were modified. The villa was inhabited up until the 1950s and, from 1988, a series of three fires have sadly destroyed the interiors. Now no ceilings remain and a number of trees grow inside the ruins.

2. The Explore:
This was the one place on my to-do list to visit prior to my trip. I’d done some research into sites around where we were staying and came across the excellent blog by Giulia Blocal (see HERE)

The only location in striking distance and without any logistical issues was Sgaravatti (would have loved to have seen the Venitian isolation colony of Poveglia Island!). So on a perfect April morning I set off on the 40-minute drive to the villa. It was easy enough to find and was a walk-in from the road. It’s in a poor way but as you can see – it is really photogenic – possibly more so for its exterior shots rather than the internals.

3. The Photographs:

Piper at the gates of dawn!
33412760273_0aff0da3d3_b.jpgimg9769 by HughieDW, on Flickr

34182890956_d6ab96bc00_b.jpgimg9772 by HughieDW, on Flickr

Ah…that tower!

34223571905_7e4902853b_b.jpgimg9773 by HughieDW, on Flickr

Gates are open:

33382935844_d2e6f8aeab_b.jpgimg9802 by HughieDW, on Flickr

And we’re in!

34092520471_3e8c63746e_b.jpgimg9775 by HughieDW, on Flickr

View from the courtyard:

34092488981_4de8be448b_b.jpgimg9776 by HughieDW, on Flickr

34065719092_31d37d4dbb_b.jpgimg9790 by HughieDW, on Flickr

And from the stable block:

33381422454_b078077d48_b.jpgimg9793 by HughieDW, on Flickr

Inside it’s just a shell:

33839107690_dd5909cd82_b.jpgimg9778 by HughieDW, on Flickr

Didn’t go on the balcony…

34092329801_a818f64121_b.jpgimg9779 by HughieDW, on Flickr

And went so far up the tower…

34092289361_ffd6aae822_b.jpgimg9781 by HughieDW, on Flickr

34182526206_7cda39c8e4_b.jpgimg9782 by HughieDW, on Flickr

and then bottled it! Interior tree:

34182472856_a152245f70_b.jpgimg9783 by HughieDW, on Flickr

And another:

34093638351_85f0179d29_b.jpgimg9801 by HughieDW, on Flickr

About the only bit of floor left!

34093678181_db6bd2a032_b.jpgimg9800 by HughieDW, on Flickr

Looking back to the stables:

34092159301_2ec6e68cd2_b.jpgimg9784 by HughieDW, on Flickr

34182374356_fdf9a4cfd8_b.jpgimg9786 by HughieDW, on Flickr

And then there is the gem of the chapel at the back:

34094220151_885f8fbfbb_b.jpgimg9811 by HughieDW, on Flickr

33838800250_bf16f93dee_b.jpgimg9788 by HughieDW, on Flickr

33840499230_0759d683c1_b.jpgimg9798 by HughieDW, on Flickr

Back to the stable block:

34091969701_b58ffac44b_b.jpgimg9791 by HughieDW, on Flickr

34065623512_dd89072868_b.jpgimg9792 by HughieDW, on Flickr

33382868454_57c2d2b40b_b.jpgimg9794 by HughieDW, on Flickr

Looks like someone was living here until recently:

34224805375_f7d94df120_b.jpgimg9795 by HughieDW, on Flickr

But probably not cooking using this:

34067427472_3c458efeaa_b.jpgimg9797 by HughieDW, on Flickr

Full-frontal from the road:

33383045164_18783d5844_b.jpgimg9812 by HughieDW, on Flickr

34096995471_41ac2e7505_b.jpgimg9807 by HughieDW, on Flickr

34070685222_9a11235550_b.jpgimg9808 by HughieDW, on Flickr

And back round the side for a bit more tower porn:

34097164511_d1a13293da_b.jpgimg9803 by HughieDW, on Flickr

33843627210_cf553997d8_b.jpgimg9810 by HughieDW, on Flickr

Spot here why I didn’t make it to the top of the tower:

34227671755_a8eac39115_b.jpgimg9813 by HughieDW, on Flickr

Bye-bye Villa Sgaravatti:

33843748500_50bc8dd6a7_b.jpgimg9806 by HughieDW, on Flickr
 
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That's a nice building, full of character with an interesting tower. With reference to your first shot do I detect a Pink Floyd fan referring to one of their first albums.
 
Looks fantastic!.. sure u could of jumped that!

Ha ha...may have aggravated the war wound mate

That's a nice building, full of character with an interesting tower. With reference to your first shot do I detect a Pink Floyd fan referring to one of their first albums.

You detect right mate ;-)

Picturesque doesn't really do it justice, beautiful photographed, I loved it, Thanks

Thank you Smiler...you are very kind.
 

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