5 best things to do in Piazzola sul Brenta
Last updated on December 18th, 2025.
It was a fresh, yet bright autumn day when we visited the small town of Piazzola sul Brenta.
This tiny town in the province of Padova is one of hundreds in Veneto, and across Italy. We drove for about 35 minutes from our home in Vicenza, past miles of flat, green farmland until we reached our exit.
On arriving at its center, Piazzola sul Brenta looks like any other residential town in Veneto. Traditional Venetian-style homes stand alongside non-descript looking buildings. In truth, there’s nothing in particular that stands out.
A town that's ideal Italy bucket list material, use this post to plan your Italy trip.
5 best things to do in Piazzola sul Brenta
1. Visit Villa Contarini at Piazzola sul Brenta
It took all of 5 minutes for me to see that my initial thoughts about Piazzola sul Brenta was wrong. As we made the short walk from our car to the center, we were stopped by the most magnificent sight.
To the left was a grand stately palace, which I soon learned was called Villa Contarini. To our right, was a semi-circular colonnade (porticoed hemicycle) that curved around the piazza and the manicured lawn in front.
The villa, its grounds and the nearby canal beamed beneath the glorious autumn sunshine.
Seeing the small, yet grand, center, filled with me the same exuberance I felt when visiting other sights in Italy. Montemerano in Tuscany, Piazzolo Acreide in Sicily and St. Peter's Basilica in Vatican City are some that spring to mind.
Today, Villa Contarini is owned by the region of Veneto. The venue’s used for events such as weddings and conferences, as well as for indoor and outdoor concerts.
2. Explore the grounds
Spread over 40 hectares, you can easily rack up your daily 10,000 steps while exploring Villa Contarini.
During our visit, the villa (interior) was closed to the public given the pandemic. If you’d like to visit soon, you need to book your tickets in advance.*
In spite of this, there was so much to see, and photograph, from the outside, that it wasn’t an issue.
Villa Contarini dates to the 16th century and was commissioned by Paolo and Francesco Contarini. The family was one of the founding families of Venice, and one of the oldest families of the Italian nobility.
Architectural style at Piazzola sul Brenta
The façade of Villa Contarini follows a mostly Baroque style. However, you can also find some Gothic architectural elements such as the main house exterior. Its windows, arches and overall style resemble the canal façade buildings you see in Venice.
To the left of the grounds is a detached chapel, built in a Neoclassical style. One of my favorite highlights of Villa Contarini is the right wing (barchessa). The detailing on the exterior is intricate and immense, and I probably spent the longest time here looking over everything.
3. Visit the gardens
Though it was slightly disappointing that the main house was closed, we were still able to visit the gardens.
Tickets cost €4 ($4.34/£3.43)* per person to enter and there was zero waiting time. On a crisp, yet radiant fall day, exploring the gardens was the perfect way to spend a late morning outdoors.
A friend of ours told me that the villa’s garden-facing exterior wasn’t as impressive as the front facing. She wasn’t wrong.
As you cross over to the other side (garden), it’s disappointing to see the lack of architectural detail. However, what it loses in its façade, it more than makes up for in the surrounding grounds.
A grand stone staircase leads to hectares of green grassland. Depending on the route you take, you’ll either meet a grand lake filled with ducks, or kilometers of leafy woodland.
The peaceful ambience of the gardens at Villa Contarini, married with gentle birdsong does wonders for your mental wellbeing.
Map of Italy
[gap]4. Have refreshments beneath the porticoed hemicycle
As you exit the gardens and return to the piazza, cross the road to the semi-circular colonnade.
Interestingly, the porticoed hemicycle was never completed — a detail that an ignorant me would never have realized had I not been told.
Beneath the porticoed hemicycle are bars, cafes and shops, most of which offer indoor or outdoor dining.
We stopped here after our visit for a cappuccino and some pasticcino, in other words, a classic breakfast in Italy.
The choices of places to eat and drink are slim given that Piazzola sul Brenta is small. However, I can assure you that you’ll find something you enjoy, this is Italy after all.
5. Visit the antiques market at Piazzola sul Brenta
Every last Sunday of the month, the piazza at Piazzola sul Brenta transforms into an antiques treasure chest.
The Mercatino dell’Antiquariato di Piazzola sul Brenta is considered to be one of the best antiques markets in Italy. Around 800 exhibitors arrive to set up market stalls, selling everything from vintage furniture to rare comics.
The antiques market at Piazzola sul Brenta began taking place in Anfiteatro Camerini in 1979. Since then, it’s only grown in popularity, for buyers and browsers alike.
Whether you come to buy, or look, the backdrop of Villa Contarini makes the Mercatino dell’Antiquariato di Piazzola sul Brenta unlike any other.
What do you think of Piazzola sul Brenta? Would you like to visit this palace in Veneto, Italy? Let me know in the comments.
*correct at the time of publishing.
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Such a shame about the inside being closed! But the exterior and the gardens are so lovely. Something to look forward to when it opens!
Yes Lannie 🙂 We plan to return soon, so I'll post some new photos when we do
These are all such wonderful places to visit and I am in serious need of a vacation and this would be perfect. The pictures are beautiful and love Piazzola sul Brenta 🙂
Thank you Melissa, please think about visiting in the future 🙂
Wow, there are so many things to do at Piazzola sul Brenta! I would love to take a walk in that beautiful garden ❤️
It really helps to clear your head 🙂
The entire property looks fantastic, I love that it has such beautiful gardens where you can enjoy a long stroll in nature. You will have to go back another time, to see the interior of Villa Contarini as well, I bet it's quite impressive.
We plan to 🙂 We'll book tickets in advance for next time
I totally would love to go here this summer!
It's a great town to visit
This looks like a beautiful place to visit!
It really is 🙂
What a gorgeous place! I can see how it would make the perfect venue for a weddng. The pictures would be spectacular.
It would be perfect for a wedding!
What an amazing place to visit, full of history and so beautiful to take pictures and explore
Yes, yes and yes!
I could certainly see myself being plenty satisfied just wandering the grounds of this beautiful place and soaking up the atmosphere without even needing to peak inside.
You could definitely do that Steven. It's so charming, especially on a bright sunny day
The Villa Contarini looks like an amazing place to visit, Lisa! The architecture is beautiful. It's nice that you have this town so close to where you live.
Thank you Becky! It's really lovely, and yes, we hope to return soon, so we can go inside 😀
Cappuccino and pasticcino beneath a beneath a porticoed hemicycle? Sign me up! Thank you for this inspiration!
Lol it was a good end to the morning Jennifer!
Such a jaw-dropping place to visit. It is amazing that they manage to maintain the complex in such great condition up until now.
You're so right, it's in still decent condition
What a neat place to visit! The architecture is amazing. I would love to be able to see this in person some day.
You'd love it, Villa Contarini is well worth a visit
This would of course be right up my street. Stunning building. Shame you didn’t get to make it inside, but the exterior is more than impressive enough to make it still a great day trip.
You would love it here John. We'll return again soon, I'll update the post with new pictures
The architecture is just stunning! It makes me yearn for travel - its been too too long
It really has, let's hope for better options this year
Adding Piazzola sul Brenta to my places to visit - gorgeous photos!
Thank you Karen! It's a beautiful town to visit
Stunning pics! So many place to go and see
Thank you.
The place looks so great. Such great captures I must say that and your description is lovely.
Thank you so much 🙂
The Piazzola Sul Brenta looks amazing and it is a place I do want to visit with I go to Padua as it is on my list of places to travel
Perfect! You'll really enjoy a day trip
It's an absolutely stunning place...I would love to visit Italy someday even retire there if I am lucky enough. Thank you for sharing these stunning images and places with us.
You're welcome! I hope you come and visit one day
I have to add this to my travel bucket list. What a beautfiul place. I would love to see it in person.
Happy to read it! Piazzola is lesser known but very beautiful
I love being in nature, and I would love to enjoy the gardens of this beautiful place.
It's really a beautiful place to clear your head and take in some history
Although it is a small town, Piazzola sul Brenta looks attractive.The canal and the architecture surrounding it is beautiful too...
It really is, and a perfect day trip too 🙂
I've never been to Italy before and I always thought that visiting the landscape and kand marks there would be on my to do list. Now that I know about the gardens from your post, it'll be the first thing I do if I go. Thanks for the fantastic post!
You're so welcome Lavanda! I hope you come and visit us one day, there's so much to see here 🙂
There is so much to do in this city. I think I would enjoy visiting the gardens the most
They're so beautiful, and the landscape does wonders for your soul!
I've sent this on to my mum. She's a real travel buff and is dying to get away somewhere after covid has died down a bit.
Aw perfect! Yes, it's been so hard not to be able to travel anywhere 🙁
This looks like an amazing place to visit. I'd be all about the antiques market. And the food.
Both great ideas Amber! Piazzola sul Brenta is a good choice for this
Getting lost in the gardens would be such a peaceful and lovely day.
The Italian architecture, stone work and masonry are inspiring to say the least.
Great piece I really enjoyed it!
Thank you David! It's not well known, unless you're from this region of Italy. I'm glad you enjoyed it 🙂