Valmarana family

The Valmarana family is an aristocratic family in Vicenza, one branch of which also held Venetian patrician status. Its motto was "Plus Ultra" (Further). They were named after the village of Valmarana (now part of Altavilla Vicentina) in the Berici Hills, where they held fiefs from the bishop of Vicenza.[2]

"Valmarana" redirects here. For the place, see Altavilla Vicentina.
Family coat of arms[1]
Giovanni Antonio Fasolo, Portrait of the Valmarana family (16th century), Villa Valmarana ai Nani, Vicenza.
Valmarana family coat of arms in the crypt of the church of Santa Corona in Vicenza
Valmarana family coat of arms in the crypt of the church of Santa Corona in Vicenza

History

According to legend, the family was descended from the ancient Roman Maria gens. In 1031 they were made counts by Conrad II, Holy Roman Emperor.[3] On 30 April 1540 Charles V, Holy Roman Emperor issued a special diploma making them counts palatine of Nogara.[3]

Their title of count was also recognised by the Republic of Venice. In 1659 the family branch led by the brothers Triffone, Stefano and Benedetto was given Venetian patrician status after they paid 100,000 ducats to help fund the Cretan War[3][4][5] This made them one of the 'Case fatte per soldo' (houses whose patrician position was achieved through money). Another line of the family did not join the Venetian patricians but did still sit in the Noble Council in Vicenza itself.[3] Under the Kingdom of Lombardy–Venetia both branches were granted noble status and the rank of count of the Austrian Empire by Sovereign Resolutions on 18 December 1817, 11 March 1820 and 13 March 1825.[3]

Notable members
  • Giovanni Francesco Valmarana (died 1566), made count palatine by Charles V, commissioned Andrea Palladio to design the Villa Valmarana in Lisiera
  • Giovanni Alvise Valmarana, brother of Giovanni Francesco, husband of Isabella Nogarola, father of Leonardo Valmarana
  • Leonardo Valmarana, husband of Isabetta Da Porto, completed the Villa Valmarana between 1579 and 1591
  • Giustino Valmarana (1898-1977), Christian Democrat politician and member of the Constituent Assembly of Italy
  • Mario Valmarana, professor of architecture at the University of Virginia
  • Lodovico Valmarana (1926-2018), count of Valmarana and Nogara, brother of Mario, owner of the Palladian Villa Almerico Capra, known as La Rotonda

Building projects
Palazzo Corner Valmarana in the San Marco quarter of Venice.
Villa Valmarana "Ai Nani", Vicenza
Palazzo Curti Valmarana, in San Marco
Villa Capra "La Rotonda"

Vicenza

Venice

Other

References
  1. (in Italian) Piero Guelfi Camaiani, Dizionario araldico, Milano, Hoepli, 1940, p. 279.
  2. (in Italian) Antonio Canova, Giovanni Mantese, I castelli medioevali del Vicentino, Vicenza, Accademia Olimpica, 1979, p. 76, ISBN 88-87061-09-2.
  3. (in Italian) Francesco Schröeder, Repertorio genealogico delle famiglie confermate nobili e dei titolati nobili esistenti nelle Provincie Venete, Vol. 2, Venezia, Tipografia di Alvisopoli, 1830, pp. 341-343.
  4. (in Italian) Dizionario storico-portatile di tutte le venete patrizie famiglie, Giuseppe Bettinelli, 1780, pp. 154-155.
  5. (in Italian) John Temple-Leader, Libro dei nobili veneti ora per la prima volta messo in luce, Firenze, Tipografia delle Murate, 1866, p. 85.
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