Bionde: Historic Farmsteads and Villas

Bionde brings together the history of rural farmsteads and architectural landmarks from several centuries. You can use these different historical themes to guide your stay: the agricultural past, distinctive architectural features, and the history of important buildings.

Bionde’s Agricultural History

For centuries, Bionde’s rural farmsteads played an essential role in the operation of agricultural businesses. This gives agricultural history a tangible connection to the farmsteads and makes it an important part of the area’s historic landscape.

The cultivation of grain in the past also illustrates the importance of agriculture. In the 17th and 18th centuries, traditional crops—wheat, rye, millet, and corn—covered 80 percent of the area. This figure applies to those two centuries and to the area as a whole. It provides a measure of the role grain played at the time; the list also shows the variety of crops involved.

Villas, Farmsteads, and Architectural Details

At Villa Da Vico, now Franceschini, the striking trifora on the façade stands out. A trifora is a window with three openings. At Mezzo Palazzo, by contrast, the feature described is inside: the central hall extends over two floors and has a wooden-beamed ceiling with painted panels. The hall’s height, ceiling, and decoration give the room its distinctive architectural character.

The historic Corte Dominicale Turco, now Scipioni, has a monumental vaulted portal that leads into a large courtyard. The portal and courtyard form a sequence from entrance to interior space. Corte Turco also has an old private oratory dedicated to Saint Joseph. Its private character distinguishes this oratory from the Church of Santa Caterina di Alessandria, another religious building with its own history in Bionde.

The Changing Corte Dominicale Campagna

Corte Dominicale Campagna can also be understood through two distinct points in history. A perspective view by Antonio Benoni from 1685 shows the Corte surrounded by a wall and divided into two areas by an inner wall. In the second half of the 19th century, the Portalupi family transformed the Corte from an old farmhouse into a holiday residence.

An earlier depiction of its spatial layout and a later change of use can therefore be considered side by side. These accounts relate to different periods: the depiction dates to 1685, while the conversion took place only in the second half of the 19th century. This chronological comparison helps explain the Corte’s development without conflating the depiction from that time with its later use.

Church History and an Event Format

The Church of Santa Caterina di Alessandria was probably built in the early years of the 15th century. A few years earlier, in 1393, the Turco family had been granted the fief of Visegna. This timeline connects the probable construction of the church with a specific reference point in the family’s history, without giving an exact construction year.

At Tra Ville e Corti 2026, participants follow a theatrical walking performance. They stop at various farmsteads and villas to learn about their history. This format combines several historic places with a dramatic presentation, setting it apart from viewing individual architectural features. When planning your trip, there is a clear distinction between the buildings described and this event: here, the focus is on traveling together between different stops.

Discover more destinations: Isola Rizza, Negrar, Ferrara Di Monte Baldo, Nassar, Pedemonte, Garda, Fornello, Mezzane Di Sotto

For the wider travel overview: Verona.