Have you ever wondered where many of the objects that make the places we describe so special come from? The secret is revealed: from Piazzola sul Brenta, and more specifically from its magnificent Piazza Camerini, overlooked by the largest Venetian villa in the region, Villa Contarini.
Known as the “Versailles of the Veneto” and spanning more than 180 meters in length (Buckingham Palace, for example, is “only” 120 meters), the Piazzola sul Brenta antiques market is held here, at Villa Contarini, every last Sunday of the month.
The event is one of the most spectacular in Europe, with hundreds of exhibitors spread across the square, the porticoes of the guesthouses, and the areas, including covered ones, around the former Camerini Jute Factory, an interesting industrial redevelopment.
Among the market stalls, you can find absolutely everything: from rare antiques to memorabilia, from curious modern design objects to fashion accessories. Piazzola is, in fact, one of the few markets in Veneto where renowned antique dealers alternate with vendors of vintage and salvaged items of all kinds. This diversity is also reflected in the colorful crowd that frequents the market: designers, architects, elegant ladies, and passionate collectors looking for the perfect bargain.
For design lovers, there are truly countless ideas: from 1930s-era black Bakelite telephones that double as regular digital phones (from around 90 euros), to enormous glass demijohns that double as tea lights (from around 20 euros), to vinyl records of pop icons from the Beatles to David Bowie (from 10 euros). And then there are vintage typewriters, advertising posters, rattan furniture, crystal chandeliers…
And if you need a break from shopping, a must is to stop at one of the cafés near the square, or take refuge on the first floor of the circular guesthouses, a long porticoed structure (the twin section, intended to mirror each other, was never completed) and climb up to the large terrace for a beautiful panoramic view.
Built in 1546 by Paolo and Francesco Contarini, it is said to have been designed by architect Andrea Palladio, Villa Contarini later became the property of the powerful Marco Contarini, procurator of San Marco, who around 1662 had it transformed into a Baroque “palace” with a vast park to be used as a venue for receptions, parties, and entertainment. In the 19th century, it was purchased by Paolo Camerini, a famous industrialist of the time, who built a major agro-industrial district around the villa.
The result of extensive restoration, the magnificent interiors of the Villa and its park are well worth a visit, as they captivate with their curious blend of styles that testify to its long history. Inside, there are many treasures: such as the frescoes, including the hypnotic one depicting “the girl on the swing” by Pietro Pajetta, the extensive library, the cutting-edge comforts for the time, such as the Art Nouveau bathroom and elevator, the Music Room designed in the shape of an upside-down guitar, and the original Shell Room decorated with reliefs and shell frames.
