The silkworm, the Venetian villa, and gold

And thus a glorious past returns

29 settembre 2025

Between Presina and Isola Mantenga, in Piazzola sul Brenta, just a few kilometers from Padua, Villa La Palladiana is a 16th-century residence attributed to Andrea Palladio, built for Giacomo Contarini, a patrician of the Serenissima.

It later belonged to the Da Ponte family and in 1878 was acquired by the Camerini entrepreneurs; after a long period of abandonment, it has returned to its former glory, along with its park, thanks to an extensive restoration project.

Here, in the barchessa, the Zonta family inaugurated their Atelier Treesure in mid-September 2025, a space that combines jewelry, creativity, and culture, becoming a meeting point between tradition and innovation. At the heart of the project are the gold and silk jewels, designed by Daniela Raccanello Zonta and handcrafted by D’orica. The Atelier also hosts the immersive experience "The Silk Journey. Invisible Venice: gold, silk, and memory", curated by the Palladio Museum, which tells the story of silk in the economy of Venetian villas and its recent revival thanks to the efforts of D’orica.

This location is no coincidence: in 1900, over 90 percent of Piazzola sul Brenta’s population was employed in the silk industry. When in 2014 Daniela Raccanello had the idea to create jewelry combining gold and silk, the family discovered that production in Italy had disappeared fifty years earlier. Thus was born the historical-scientific project that revives a great tradition, one that in the past had brought economic prosperity precisely to these lands.

It is also worth taking a moment to appreciate the villa’s park: it covers an area of 11,000 square meters and is divided into three main sections. It offers a rich biodiversity that combines natural beauty with botanical value. Among the most significant plants are Quercus rubra, Carpinus betulus, Fagus sylvatica pendula, and the rare Ginkgo biloba, as well as specimens of Magnolia grandiflora, Liriodendron tulipifera, and Acer palmatum. The orchard hosts fruit trees such as Punica granatum and Ficus carica, surrounded by a wide green lawn.

The opportunity offered by ApritiModa is truly special: the Atelier is accessible exclusively by appointment, accompanied by the company’s Brand Manager, allowing visitors to experience the project’s philosophy up close.

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