Villa Foscari (La Malcontenta)
Mira, Italy
A villa designed by Andrea Palladio on the Brenta canal, with a temple front facing the water and frescoed rooms inside. Opening is seasonal and on set days; the lane beside the canal has a small parking area.
Villa Foscari, known as “La Malcontenta”, stands on the Brenta canal near Mira, near the Venetian lagoon. Andrea Palladio built it in the 1550s for the Venetian brothers Nicolò and Alvise Foscari. Its high podium of around 3.4 m is more than twice what Palladio normally used, as a cellar could not be dug on this site. The frescoes, by Giambattista Zelotti among others, were limewashed over in the 19th century and only largely uncovered in the 1970s. Since 1996 the villa has been part of the UNESCO World Heritage Site of the Palladian villas of the Veneto.
The nickname (“the discontented one”) comes from a legend that a Foscari wife was banished here; its origin is uncertain. Descendants of the Foscari still look after the house; it is open only at set times and by guided tour. Check the current visiting days on the villa's website (as of November 2026). It combines well with Villa Pisani in Stra.
- Nearest town
- Mira, Italy
- Category
- History & culture
- GPS
- 45.4365, 12.2065
Hours, fees and access change. Confirm with the operator or park before you go.
Good to know
Best time to go
The most pleasant months are usually May–June and September. Still fine, with some compromises, in April, July–August and October. Cold, short days in January–February. (Estimate from long-term temperature averages, terrain and pass seasons)
Getting there
- Italy: Motorway tolls. Tolls on most autostrade; pay at the barrier by card or cash. Motorway limit for cars: 130 km/h.
Featured in these trip guides
Nearby
Campsites nearby
- Camping SerenissimaCampsite3 km from Villa Foscari (La Malcontenta)TentsElectricityDrinking waterShowersToiletsWaste disposalDogs allowed
- Camping FusinaCampsite4 km from Villa Foscari (La Malcontenta)TentsCaravansMotorhomesElectricityDrinking waterShowersToiletsWaste disposalWi-Fi
- Camping RialtoCampsite8 km from Villa Foscari (La Malcontenta)TentsCaravansMotorhomesElectricityDrinking waterShowersToiletsDogs allowedWi-Fi
- Agricampeggio MoseCampsite17 km from Villa Foscari (La Malcontenta)TentsMotorhomesElectricityWaste disposalDogs allowedWi-Fi
- Agricampeggio da ScarpaCampsite18 km from Villa Foscari (La Malcontenta)TentsCaravansMotorhomesElectricityDrinking waterShowersToiletsWaste disposalDogs allowedWi-Fi
- Marina di VeneziaCampsite18 km from Villa Foscari (La Malcontenta) · 3,000 pitchesTentsCaravansMotorhomesElectricityShowersToiletsWaste disposalDogs allowedWi-Fi
All campsites in Italy · Campsite data: © OpenStreetMap contributors, ODbL 1.0 · Updated October 3, 2026
FAQs
Where is Villa Foscari (La Malcontenta)?
Villa Foscari (La Malcontenta) is in Mira, Italy, at GPS 45.4365, 12.2065. It is about 9 km from Venice.
Can you camp near Villa Foscari (La Malcontenta)?
Yes. The nearest campsite listed in OpenStreetMap is Camping Serenissima, about 3 km away; within 25 km there are 44 campsites and motorhome stopovers.
Which road trips pass Villa Foscari (La Malcontenta)?
Villa Foscari (La Malcontenta) is a stop on these CampingSpirit trip guides: Riviera del Brenta, Padua and the Euganean Hills.
What is there to see near Villa Foscari (La Malcontenta)?
Places worth a stop nearby: Piazza San Marco (10 km), Villa Pisani (15 km), Scrovegni Chapel (26 km) and Castello del Catajo (37 km).
When is the best time to visit Villa Foscari (La Malcontenta)?
The most pleasant months are usually May–June and September. Still fine, with some compromises, in April, July–August and October. (Estimate from long-term temperature averages, terrain and pass seasons)