Villa Soranzo Chiminelli in Sant'Andrea di Castelfranco Veneto is a delightful building from the second half of the 16th century, entirely frescoed on the exterior and main floor by Benedetto Caliari, brother of Paolo Veronese, and his school.
The Villa was erected on an earlier 'domus', and its first owner was Francesco Soranzo, a Venetian nobleman, parish priest at S. Andrea beyond the Muson. During the Second World War, the Villa was occupied by the German armed forces, who used it as a military hospital, and after its liberation by the American allied command. It was in the latter year of the war that the entire property was purchased by Francesco Chiminelli, who began restoration work, restoring the frescoed walls still partially covered in lime. It is also to him that we owe the collection of objects that today make up the Museums of Peasant Art and Tanning.
The Villa consists of the basement floor used as vaulted cellars, a raised main floor entirely covered in frescoes, and the first floor once used as a granary. Due to its collected dimensions and decorative elements, it falls into the category of buildings for holidaying, hunting and literary pursuits typical of mainland architecture, of the 'villa civilisation' of wealthy Venetians.
The Villa houses the Museo Conciario, the Museo Agricolo and the Museo Contadino.
