Villa Varda

The small Brugnera, a few kilometres south of Porcia and Sacile, was founded in the thirteenth century as a river port along the Livenza, on a natural bend of the river. In the disputes of that time between the local potentates – the lords of Prata, the municipality of Treviso, the Patriarch of Aquileia, the House of Austria... – Brugnera referred to the Counts of Porcia. Even in the 17th century, the river was the most direct route of communication with the ports on the Adriatic coast, and it was here that the main façade of Villa Varda stood before the 19th century renovations.

The complex is often used for events and ceremonies, but it is the park that can be visited on a regular basis: it features 18 hectares of very attractive English-style landscaping, as well as being representative along the river of the typical aquatic environment in the area. There is also a small parterre garden, an orangery, a small church and a family mausoleum.

In architectural terms, the villa presents itself in the elegant form it took on more than a century after it was acquired by the Trieste-based Morpurgo de Nilma family, who remained the owners until 1943. The latter is also responsible for the current layout of the landscaping, as well as the bequest of the complex to the Pordenone Seminary as a sign of gratitude for the protection provided during World War II. Villa Varda is now owned by the Municipality of Brugnera.