OUR HISTORY



THE FAMILY





The San Bonifacio family is a noble Veronese lineage of Frankish-Salic origin, with Milone di San Bonifacio, Count and Marquis of Verona, as its progenitor. Their dominance over the city of Verona and northeastern Italy lasted for many centuries from the second half of the 900s AD. 



Milone's castle, 955 AD



The Shakespearean tragedy of Romeo and Juliet finds its origins in the historical records and written archives about the Counts of San Bonifacio by Rolandino, a historian of the 13th century. The Montagues, also known as a political faction that rebelled against the Azzi Marquises of Este, formed an alliance with the Counts of San Bonifacio, often referred to as the Capulets due to their distinctive hats. Count Sauro San Bonifacio was slain by Tiserio, a member of the Montague faction, who fled to the East, leaving his brothers the task of restoring order between the Montagues and the powerful Counts of Verona (Capulets – Azzi & Counts of San Bonifacio). With Sauro San Bonifacio's demise, the Capulet faction permanently lost control over the city. Thus, Shakespeare penned the tragic tale of how the Counts of Verona lost their beloved city upon Sauro's death, becoming known as the Counts of San Bonifacio in 1207.


THE VILLA





The Villa, dating back to the 16th century, reflects the importance and history of the San Bonifacio family. Originally divided between Verona and Mandriola, the Counts of San Bonifacio were forced to relocate to Padua due to their political affiliations, being aligned with the Guelph faction. The residence was constructed in Mandriola for this reason, strategically positioned adjacent to the walls of Padua and close to waterways. 



 This historic residence comprises an impressive architectural complex including the main building, a chapel, a greenhouse, an aviary, a belvedere, a lake house with crenellated tower and neo-Gothic windows, and a vast park with a small lake. The main building, spread over two floors, has a U-shaped layout embracing a flower-filled courtyard with an authentic decorated well, enclosed by a wall adorned with a wrought-iron gate, topped by pillars bearing stone statues from Custoza. The two arms of the U are the oldest part of the building: one housed the priest's quarters and a small church built in the 17th century, dedicated to St. James, featuring a tall pointed-arch entrance and a cusp-topped Romanesque bell tower. The other arm served as residential quarters and forms the original nucleus of the villa. Adjacent to the residence is another building, restored in the 18th century by Count Antonio Maria di San Bonifacio for his son Ercole's marriage to Marchesa Teresa degli Obizzi. 



Of particular interest and beauty is the 18th-century Celebration Hall inside the villa, which once served as a ballroom, with walls divided by a balustrade and decorated with overdoors featuring flowers and shells, as well as various mythological paintings and frescoes inspired by the art of Giambattista Tiepolo depicting the Labours of Hercules: Hercules and the Hydra, Hercules and the Lion, and Hercules and Antaeus. The center of the ceiling is adorned with the work Apollo and the Muses, accompanied by Pegasus, attributed to the "Tiepolesque" artist Giambattista Canal. Around the gallery of the hall are other monochrome paintings in ochre tones, also of mythological inspiration depicting Venus, Minerva, Ceres, Flora, Autumn, and Amphitrite. On the eastern wall, one can finally observe the heraldic emblem of the San Bonifacio family, within a false arch.



The splendid Romantic-style park covers over five hectares, and strolling along its pathways adorned with centuries-old trees and eighteenth-century statues depicting various mythological characters, one can admire the charming lake within the park.