Every year from March till October, Il Burchiello^® cruises along the Brenta River with departure from Padua or Venice on alternate days. The excursion is highly interesting from a historical, cultural and aesthetic point of view.

Along the Canal one can admire more than fifty villas, once summer residences of the Venetian nobility. As the cruise makes its way through some stunning locations, one appreciates the high technological value of the engineering work carried out in order to create this ship canal, allowing the development of civilisation over the years.

Along the way, Il Burchiello^® stops at three of the most important mansions: Villa Pisani, Barchessa Valmarana or Villa Widmann and Villa Foscari "Malcontenta".
Departing from Padua the first visit is devoted to the grandest of all the villas on the Brenta: Villa Pisani, which is now a National Museum.
Built by the Pisani family of Venice between 1720 and 1760 to celebrate the election of Alvise Pisani as Doge, the villa was constructed by Girolamo Frigimelica, later modified by Francesco Maria Preti.
In 1807, the villa was sold to Napoleon I.
Among the artists who decorated the apartments , the most outstanding was Tiepolo, whose masterpiece, painted in 1761/62 - Apotheosis of the Pisani Family - graces the ceiling of the ballroom.

After pausing at the locks of Dolo and Mira, Il Burchiello^® docks at Mira to visit Barchessa Valmarana, a 17th century building, decorated with frescoes by Michelangelo Schiavoni, known as "il Chiozzotto".
Alternatively we visit the villa Widmann, a real jewel on the Brenta Riviera, with magnificent frescoes painted by G. Angeli and G. Mengozzi - Colonna. After the visit, we arrive at Oriago were passengers can have lunch at a well-known restaurant on the canal's banks.

In the afternoon our cruise proceeds towards Villa Foscari, also known as Villa Malcontenta ("The Unhappy") one of the finest examples of Palladio's small country mansions. It was built in 1558 for Nicolò and Alvise Foscari and still belongs to the descendants of that noble family.
According to legend, the villa owes its name "Malcontenta" to the wife of one of the Foscari who was confined here against her will. The frescoes are by Giovanni Battista Zelotti and Battista Franco, two local 16th-century masters.

After visiting Villa Foscari, we navigate through the ancient lock of Moranzani, heading towards the Venetian lagoon and docking near Piazza San Marco. Passengers who would like to end their trip at the historical centre of Venice, can disembark here.
Il Burchiello^® carries on its navigation till the Maritime Station where all the passengers who wish to return to Padua by bus will disembark.

Navigation from Padova to Venice
(wednesday - friday - sunday)

Navigation from Venice to Padova
(tuesday - thursday - saturday)

Strà - Villa Pisani

Mira - Villa Widmann

Mira - Barchessa Valmarana

Malcontenta - Villa Foscari