History, the origins of Tenuta Castel Venezze
The Estate Castel Venezze takes its name from an ancient castle that was destroyed in the September of 1404, at the hands of Uguccione dè Contrary, in the service of Nicolò d’Este in a fight against the Veneziani.
The family Frassetti or Venezze, already in the territory since 1300, as is recorded in notarial deeds side by side to the name of the protecting Sant Martino resided in the Castle at the times of the Carraresi.
The estate is currently property of the descendants of this nobleman and prestigious family Veneta.
La storia della tenuta
Archaeological findings indicate that the territory of San Martino was already inhabited during the Roman era. The stone path that crosses the park, along which two pillars stand, was the medieval communication route between Ferrara and Padua. The 16th-century building, in Ferrarese style, marked the border between the Este territories and the Republic of Venice. For this reason, a toll was customarily paid at the pillars.
In 1484, San Martino was ceded by the Este family to the Republic of Venice, to which it belonged until the Republic’s fall in 1797. In 1844 and again in 1882, San Martino suffered two devastating floods of the Adige River. After joining the Kingdom of Italy in 1866, the municipality of San Martino was given the additional name Venezze, meaning “outside the water,” as the buildings of the estate had been spared from the flooding.
The property, including the villa and the surrounding farmland, belonged to the Frassetti family, declared noble as early as 1425 and renamed Venezze in 1464. The original castle, built in the year 1000 and completely destroyed over the centuries, stood in the private area where the family now resides. Some of the ancient bricks are still visible today in the lower arches.
In 1852, Maria Venezze, the only daughter of Francesco Venezze, married a Giustiniani of Viennese origin, who owned property in Padua and Vanzo. Maria’s estate was eventually abandoned and left in the hands of tenants and administrators. Upon Maria’s death, her palace in Rovigo was donated to the municipality to house the Conservatory of Music. The farmland was inherited by her daughter, also named Maria, who had married Giusti del Giardino. She died childless. Giusti remarried Giulia Bianchini, but they, too, had no children. After being widowed, Giulia left all the property that had belonged to Maria Giustiniani—Giusti’s first wife—and to Girolamo Giustiniani, who had eight children.
I, Maria Giustiniani, the sixth of Girolamo’s eight children, moved to Florence at the age of sixteen to live with my aunt Giucciardini, my mother’s sister. After completing my classical studies, I married Mario Del Bono, owner of the most beautiful jewelry shop on the Ponte Vecchio.
I discovered this property in 1968, after the death of Giulia Giusti, who had held lifetime rights to it. My father tried to reclaim the land from the tenants, but without success. My husband Mario succeeded in 1983. He was drawn to the peace and seclusion of the place, and after retiring, moved here to begin restoring the land and buildings. Sadly, in 1995, my brother Pio—who had joined Mario in the restoration—passed away. Mario, disheartened and alone, returned to Florence, where he died a few months later in a tragic accident.
I was left alone. I came here in September 1995 and had no idea what to do. A significant amount of money had been spent on restoring the land and buildings, but the interiors still required a complete overhaul. My son Vittorio helped me a lot; I restored three apartments and the 16th-century barchessa, converting it into guest rooms, a professional kitchen, and several ground-floor lounges. Meanwhile, the trees we had planted were growing, and the landscape was gradually taking on the appearance of an oasis. The swimming pool was built to be disinfected using only mineral salts.
In 1998, I was finally able to start the business, gradually. The work was demanding and intense, and the beginning of the agriturismo activity was difficult. However, in the end, I was very pleased with the results, and I see that guests also appreciate the unique style of a comfortable setting that preserves the charm of the ancient medieval estate.
In September 2014, Countess Maria Giustiniani passed away. The business is now run by her five children, who have preserved the same spirit of hospitality toward guests that was so characteristic of their mother.
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