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Published: June 14th 2017
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Geo: 45.7933, 11.9128
When we had arrived in S. Catarina on Monday morning, we were told the sad news that Rita's cousin's daughter's husband (are you following this?) had passed away suddenly, so on Wednesday, Rita, Elio and Steven went to the funeral. It wasn't until 3.30pm, so we had some time in the morning, and decided to go to a nearby Villa at Maser.
The Maser Villa was designed by Palladio, one of the most famous architects in the world who came from this area (and therefore, THE most important architect in the world in this part of Italy!). He was ahead of his time, demanding that his buildings combine beauty, convenience and blend with the surrounds. It was absolutely lovely – the long yellow building stretching into the surrounding corn and barley fields and grapevines, the lovely green lawn decorated with large statues and wonderful black horses (real horses!) ( In fact, these are some of the only animals we have seen out in the fields in Europe – so many times all the farm animals are kept in sheds, and not released into the fields at any time!)
The interior of the villa was magnificent – these photos don't do it
justice, and indeed, are not my photos, as photos were not permitted. The kids really could see the use of perspective in the paintings, to give the impression of rooms that didn't exist, of shelves, niches and windows that were painted to give the perception of rooms that were even larger (and pictures of people who were not actually in the room).
We then went outside, and up to the carriage museum – Elio didn't come in, and instead saw a wild deer in the gardens. In the museum were dozens of carriages and a few sleds – the children were very interested in life before cars, and pretended to be princes and princesses getting into the carriages.
The villas in this area are incredible- I've also posted the photo of the villa which is next door to our apartment - the paintings on it would look ridiculous anywhere but in Italy! And as we drive back to Asolo, there is another villa - Villa Rinaldi - which is being subdivided into apartments - haven't found out what they cost!
The kids and I then had a very quiet afternoon, resting and then walking around Asolo – we tried to buy an
icecream but the gelati shop was closed and we had to settle for a bucket of icecream from the corner store (still outstanding icecream!) Steven, Elio and Rita went to the funeral and cemetery – Steven said that, whilst it was sad, it wasn't someone that he knew, and it was interesting to observe the differences between an Italian funeral and one in Australia. The fellow who delivered the obituary wore only a T-shirt (and Steven had been worried that he left his suit in Switzerland!), and they don't have a wake – only a rosary at the home of the deceased the night before the funeral.
Home for a quiet dinner at home, and a glass of wine or two on our patio overlooking the lights of the Veneto plains – it's a good life in Asolo!
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