THE CONFERENCE

Horizons Beyond Borders

The Venetian Villa Ecosystem: new synergies to meet tomorrow’s challenges

Friday 18th October | Villa Selvatico (Battaglia Terme, Padua)
from 10.00 am to 1.00 pm

The Conference “The Venetian Villas – Horizons Beyond Borders 2024” will explore redefining the Villas not only as historical testimonies, but also as pivotal elements in the circular economic economy. Guided by an innovative approach that seeks to blend the Villas’ rich history with today’s challenges and opportunities, it aims to forge a harmonious connection between history and sustainability. For this reason, the theme of the Conference of the third edition of the Giornata delle Ville Venete is: “The Venetian Villa Ecosystem: new synergies to meet tomorrow’s challenges”.

The Conference will be held on Friday 18th October 2024 from 10am to 1pm in the prestigious venue of: Villa Selvatico in Battaglia Terme, Padua. 

Villa Selvatico is a seventeenth-century villa, located in the heart of the Euganean Hills Regional Park, and surrounded by thermal gardens designed in the 19th century by the landscape architect Giuseppe Jappelli. The Villa, which recently reopened after lengthy restoration work, will provide a splendid backdrop to our discussions about how the Venetian Villas have always been custodians of cultural and artistic traditions, as well as the local farming, landscape, economic and social fabric: a heritage which is both unique and precious. It’s a legacy that must be preserved by adopting an approach which is holistic, transversal and sustainable, and any discussion about the future of this heritage must also embrace the principles of the circular economy. Thus, through talks by experts in economics, history and landscape, we will explore this theme, beginning with a central reflection: how the Venetian Villas have represented a virtuous example of a sustainable economy since they were created. 

The conference will commence with the welcome speeches from the pre-eminent figures and supporters of this initiative: the President of the Association for Venetian Villas Isabella Collalto de Croÿ, and the President of The Regional Institute of Venetian Villas (IRVV) Prof. Amerigo Restucci. This will be followed by talks given by a panel of eminent speakers, starting with Margherita Azzi Visentini, historian and expert on Venetian Villas and their gardens, who will give a talk about Venetian Villas through the Ages, from the inception of the Republic of Venice to the present day. After her, Edoardo Demo, Associate Professor of Economic History at the Department of Economic Sciences of the University of Verona and current President of the Andrea Palladio International Centre for Architectural Studies, will describe how the Venetian Villas were always an essential element of the economic system of the Republic of Venice. Next, Luca Piana, journalist, editor and Deputy Director of Nord Est Multimedia will present a preliminary study that seeks to evaluate the impact the Venetian Villas have on the economic and manufacturing sector of our Region. Following him, the President of the Veneto Film Commission Luigi Bacialli will be discussing the transversal nature of the Venetian Villas by commenting on the documentary Il tempo delle Ville Venete: real life stories, presented at the 81st Venice Film Festival on Sunday 1st September. Finally, two Venetian Villa owners will give talks. The engineer and owner of Villa Selvatico Marco Miola will unveil an exclusive and innovative sustainability project involving Villa Selvatico and its thermal waters. Finally, in the company of Alessandra De Nicola, the young co-owner of Villa La Gualda in Montecchio Maggiore, we will explore another theme which examines the social and community role of the Venetian Villas. 

Participation is free
Places are limited so booking is compulsory