Historical Timeline
Discover the rise of the Thiene family and the evolution of the villa.
Ascolta l’audio
1404 – Vicenza allies itself with the Most Serene Republic of Venice; Giacomo Thiene leads the negotiations and is named a man of merit.
1541-1542 – The brothers Marcantonio and Adriano Thiene begin the design of the city palace in Contrà Santo Stefano and the villa at Quinto, whose original conception is attributed to Giulio Romano. Andrea participates from the beginning as a close collaborator and site manager, taking full control of the construction sites after the death of Giulio Romano in 1546.
1545 – Construction of the villa at Quinto begins along the Tesina river, also linked to raw silk production and trade with France.
1546 – Giulio Romano dies, and Palladio takes over the management of the works.
1550 – Adriano Thiene dies in Fontainebleau. Between 1550 and 1551, Ottavio Thiene marries Laura Boiardo, heir to the County of Scandiano.
1552 – Marcantonio Thiene dies; he is succeeded by his son Ottavio, with a likely revision and reduction of the villa’s design.
Between 1553 and 1555 – Giovanni De Mio, Bernardino India, and Anselmo Canera decorate the vaults of the main hall and the small sitting room.
Between 1556 and 1558 – Work at Quinto is temporarily suspended.
1565 – Ottavio Thiene obtains the investiture of the County of Scandiano from Alfonso II d’Este, gradually shifting the family’s interests toward the Modena area and Ferrara.
1570 – Palladio publishes I Quattro Libri dell’Architettura.
1574 – Ottavio Thiene dies; he is succeeded by his son Giulio.
1586 – Giulio Thiene is awarded the title of Marquis of Scandiano, retaining the title of Count of Quinto.
August 13, 1614 – Inigo Jones visits the villa and makes his famous sketches of it.
1619 – 1623 – Following the death of Giulio and his successor Ottavio II without male heirs, the fiefdom of Scandiano returns to the Este Ducal Chamber.
1740 – Francesco Muttoni describes the villa and works on its southern facade.
1805 – 1816 – The villa passes through various owners (Todescato, and then Count Giacomo Bulla, who modifies the interiors).
1871 – The Municipality of Quinto acquires the complex, later converting it into municipal offices.
How to visit Villa Thiene
Villa Thiene in Quinto Vicentino can be visited by reservation and was recently renovated with the addition of accessible pathways.
