Villa Elodia

Villa Elodia in Trivignano Udinese
Since its origins in the 18th century, Villa Elodia, along with its adjoining rustic buildings and the surrounding lands, was part of the property of a noble Venetian family, active in the silk industry and a supplier of fine fabrics to the Imperial House of Austria.

The architectural complex dates back to the mid-17th century and consists of a central body and two slightly set-back side sections. In the central body, there is an external staircase with two flights in stone and wrought iron that leads directly to the salon on the main ‘piano nobile’ floor.

The balconies on the first floor with their stone balustrades and tympanum with its central round window enhanced with three statues placed at the top grace the overall architectural appearance.

The internal layout of the Villa consists of three levels: the ground, first and second floors. In the centre of the main hall on the first floor, guests are welcomed by a refined marble statue, a work from the workshop of Canova. The passing salon and the symmetrical rooms facing it recreate the compositional model of a Venetian Villa. All the rooms are adorned with frescoes, stucco work and Neo-classical-inspired decorations, as well as original ‘Venetian terrazzo’ floors.

The Villa also has five double rooms, all with en-suite bathrooms, a modern equipped kitchen, a breakfast-dining room and a living room for reading and watching TV.

Flanking the Villa is the large ancient ‘barchessa’ (the name given to a historic farm building), which has been recently renovated for hosting private events and ceremonies. At the back, the centuries- old park with a romantic pond opens out into a beautiful setting. The ensemble is enclosed by elegant, crenellated walls.

The history of Villa Elodia
The Villa, located in the centre of the village and well defended by a high crenellated wall that runs all around it, is believed to date back to the second half of the 17th century, but it is possible that it is even older than that.

The Napoleonic land register in 1811 attributes its ownership to the Redolfi family, landowners from Trivignano. It was referred to as a ‘house with its own courtyard’ and was in all probability a manor house with different features from those we see today. In 1821, Francesco Redolfi sold the entire property to nobleman Domenico Rubini.

The Rubini family, Venetian patricians since 1646, had been settled in Friuli since the mid-18th century, where they owned silk mills and traded in fabrics and precious silks that were exported to Vienna, the capital of the empire at the time.

Domenico initiated the expansion of the entire complex, gentrifying the Villa in alignment with the aesthetic and cultural dictates that had become established among the nobility and wealthy bourgeoisie of Venice since Palladio‘s time.

The main façade of the Villa exhibits clear elements of Neo-classical influence: the Doric pilasters framing the central body, the tympanum with its central rose window crowned by three beautiful statues, and the double-flight stone staircase leading to the main floor. All of these elements evoke a taste for all things neoclassical, derived from the interpretation of Palladian principles that were widespread among the aristocrats living in the province of Udine and the areas bordering on the Veneto region between the 18th and early 19th century.

The central salon, in pure ‘Empire’ style, is embellished with elegant Ionic columns and a refined marble statue of a woman, which is believed to be the work of Canova’s workshop. On either side of the salon, in symmetrical positions, are the sitting rooms and the dining room. All the rooms feature Murano glass chandeliers and original period furniture.

Domenico also enlarged the rustic buildings and constructed cellars for storing wheat and corn, wine pressing, and silkworm breeding, in line with the economic approach that Venetian patricians had wisely given to their mainland estates from the outset. The ‘barchesse’ buildings, which were predominantly for rural use were in fact no less developed and considered as important as the main residence.

Upon the Count’s death in 1848, the assets were divided among his children Pietro, Carlo, Luigia and Caterina, and the Trivignano estate passed to Carlo, who lived there permanently with his wife Emma Forbes, an English opera singer, and their three daughters.

It is thought that Carlo promoted new developments that mainly concerned the park area. Indeed, the inventory at the time of Domenico’s death describes a garden situated between the Villa and the ‘brolo’ or orchard, that had characteristics similar to those of Italian Renaissance gardens, with the space divided into geometric compartments bordered by boxwood hedges, with flowering plants, roses and statues.

There is no trace of this layout today; meanwhile, the park designed by Carlo remains unaltered from its original layout, with all the characteristics of an English-style landscape park: a small lake, canals, avenues and woodland indeed identify the garden as perfectly in line with the romantic style of the late 19th century.

The Rubinis’ family ties suggest that Andrea Scala was involved in the design of this park: in 1843, Luigia, Carlo’s sister, married Gian Battista, brother of the renowned architect. Existing documentation reports that Scala was involved in several of the family’s projects, including the garden and park of Villa Rubini in Spessa di Cividale, owned by Pietro, the garden of the Udinese residence of Gabriele Pecile, husband of his sister Caterina, and the ‘barchessa’ of Villa Costantini Scala in Mereto di Capitolo.

Upon Carlo’s death, the estate passed to his eldest daughter Marion, after whom the Villa was named for a number of years. After a period of prosperity still linked to land rents and silkworm breeding, the outbreak of World War I marked a hiatus in the Villa’s history: Trivignano found itself a rear battlefield zone, and the residence was used as a military hospital.

In 1954 Elodia Orgnani Martina purchased the property, which is still managed by her heirs.

Facilities and services: weddings and private events in the Friuli region
Historical Villa: the Neo-classical salon and adjacent lounges are perfect for aperitifs and private dinners, seminars and conferences and product presentations for up to 60 people, as well as selected cooking classes and local wine tastings. There are four double bedrooms with Italian marble bathrooms, a breakfast-dining room, a living room and an independent kitchen.

Foledor: two rooms that can be adapted to the number of guests, four bathrooms including two for disabled individuals, a cloakroom, a fully equipped kitchen space for catering with a separate entrance, tables and chairs. The space is characterised by its complete absence of architectural barriers, ensuring accessibility for all.

Garden and Park: the outdoor spaces provide the ideal setting for numerous occasions and all variety of arrangements.

Parking: accommodates 50 to 55 cars.

Places of interest in the vicinity
Diocesan Museum and Tiepolo Galleries.