The left barchessa of the Villa Emo a Fanzolo di Vedelago. At the left end there is a dovecote.The barchessa of the Villa Emo
A barchessa is a rural service building, typical of the architecture of Venetian villas. The concept was created and popularized by architect Andrea Palladio. A barchessa contains the working portions of the estate, separately from the central body of the villa. Barchessas were characterized by a long arcade with high round arches and used for services including kitchens, farm staff, stables, and barns.[1] As interpreted outside of Italy, the barchessas (barchesse in Italian) evolved to become defining elements of Palladian architecture.
Description
In the historical region of the Republic of Venice the barchessas are almost always are arranged on either side of the main house, and are an integral part of a large productive agricultural complex. Andrea Palladio gave architectural dignity to the barchesse, placing them side by side, aligning them and connecting them to the manor house, giving the whole greater symmetry and monumentality. The orientation was also important: in his I quattro libri dell'architettura (Venice, 1570), Palladio states that the barchesse should face south to keep the stored hay from fermenting and burning.
In the Veneto countryside - and in particular along the riviera del Brenta - barchessas may be found without a villa: due to the taxation on villas. During the 19th century many buildings of the Venetian patriciate were demolished, leaving only the barchessas, useful as cottages or warehouses.
Examples
Villa Algarotti as it appears today: only the barchessa remains of the building
Among the most famous and characteristic barchesse there are those combined with the following villas:
