In Galzignano Terme, where the plains meet the first gentle slopes of the Euganean Hills, lies a place that seems suspended in the 17th century: Villa Barbarigo Pizzoni Ardemani, known as the “Little Versailles.” Once reached by water from Venice, navigating the canals of the Sant’Eusebio Valley, it still welcomes visitors today with the same grandeur — a perfect balance between Venetian noble architecture and a landscape shaped with Baroque precision.

A Vow Carved in Stone

The beauty you admire today was born from a dramatic moment. In 1631, the Barbarigo family sought refuge here to escape the plague devastating Venice. Zuane Francesco Barbarigo made a solemn vow: if his children survived, he would transform this land into a hymn to life and gratitude. His son Gregorio — now Saint Gregory Barbarigo — fulfilled that promise, commissioning architect Luigi Bernini, papal architect and hydraulic engineer.

The Beginning of the Journey: The Portal of Diana

Your path begins at the Pavilion of Diana, the ancient water entrance. Before this imposing Istrian stone portal, adorned with sculptures by Enrico Merengo, you immediately sense the passage into another dimension. Diana-Luna, goddess of transformation, watches from above as you cross the threshold. From here unfolds the “path of salvation”: an itinerary designed to guide you, step by step, toward renewed inner clarity.

In the Silence of Ancient Boxwoods

Walking along the Cardo and Decumanus avenues, you find yourself immersed in a botanical setting unique in the world. The boxwood hedges rise over five metres high, forming corridors of deep, intense green.

You encounter the Labyrinth: six thousand boxwood plants, many over four hundred years old. Enter the maze and follow its one-and-a-half-kilometre path. Here, time slows. The dead ends represent life’s uncertainties, yet with patience you reach the central tower. From above, the journey you have taken appears clearer, simpler. Nearby, the Hermit’s Grotto invites a moment of silence — ideal for reflection before continuing onward.

Between Immanence and Transcendence

The garden plays constantly with contrasts. On one side lies the Island of Rabbits, whose tangible presence reminds us of the limits of body and space. On the main avenue stands the Statue of Time: Cronos, the winged giant, holds a dodecahedron whose faces are illuminated differently by the sun, symbolising the passing of seasons and years.

Along the paths, you brush past plants that once travelled for months across the Atlantic. The California Cedar, brought here in 1665 after rounding the Strait of Magellan, still stands — a giant nearly four centuries old, coexisting with ancient yews and white magnolias.

The Culmination: The Staircase of the Sonnet

The journey concludes at the Staircase of the Sonnet. Ascend the seven marble steps while reading the verses engraved in stone. It is an invitation to leave worldly concerns behind and enter a dimension of peace. You arrive at the Square of Revelations, before the Villa’s façade. Here, between the statues of Happiness and Wisdom, the Fountain of the Mushroom completes the circle. Pause to watch the water flow, carrying with you a sense of wellbeing that lingers — just like these stones and these trees.