The spread of the aristocratic villas along the course of the Brenta from Malcontenta to Stra' was the phenomenon that was a sign of the power of Venice for a couple of centuries between 1550 and 1700. The extraordinary flourishing of summer residences that great families of Venice built around the 16th and 19th century, were in perfect armony with nature, in the countryside near Venice.There are indeed many in this area, possibly thanks to the precense of the main architect of this villas, Andrea Palladio, from Padua (1508-1580), who designed them with theclassical and noble forms destined to fascinate the whole world. The Villa Emo by Andrea Palladio , unencumbered by lavish decoration, surrounded by elegant gardens, its simple form makes it one of Palladio's purest creations as a Villa architect. Enjoy the Zellotti's frescoes, one of Palladio's favorite frescoes artists, as we tour the villa. And learn why many people regard this as the most beautiful of the Palladian Villas. The Villa Malcontenta by Andrea Palladio , along with its famous legend, is one of Palladio's most famous villas. Built for the wealthy Foscari family, it sits in splendid isolation beside the waters of the Riviera Brenta Canal . As we tour the interior we'll discuss how Palladio's architecture evolved. The design of this Villa reflects the transition of Palladian architecture from his early years of imitating other architects to a period when he began to realize his own unique designs. Villa Barbaro by Andrea Palladio , the most richly decorated of all Palladian villas, is famous for its delightful Veronese frescoes. As we tour the interior, we'll discuss the beautiful frescoes of the Villa and the famous conflict between Palladio, the patron Marcantonio Barbaro and Veronese as they wrestled over the design and ideology of the building. Providing the perfect interlude between villas, we'll visit the enchanting village of Asolo and take a leisurely lunch at a local Osteria where we'll enjoy delicious regional cuisine and some of the local wines. Asolo, "the pearl of Veneto ", is arguably one of the most beautiful hill-towns in Italy .