Around the world Veneto, Italy
A saintly touch This graceful villa in Valsanzibio, on the beauti- ful Euganean hills, is the brainchild of two prominent 17th-century Venetian men, Francesco Zuane Barbarigo and one of his sons, Gregorio. A senator of the republic, Francesco Zuane Barbarigo instructed architect Luigi Bernini (brother of the more famous Gian Lorenzo) to design him the house as a summer retreat. The con- struction continued under Gregorio, perhaps the villa' s
` Gregorio' s vast gardens symbolise man' s journey towards salvation'
most famous resident. The Barbarigo scion was barely 18 when he took part in the negotiations for the peace of Westphalia as an aide to Venetian ambassador Alvise Contarini. When he came home, however, he decided to join the ranks of the Catholic Church. Pope Alex- ander VII appointed him as one of his aides and charged him with bringing help and spiritual succour to the people of Italy, afflicted by the plague. Later a bishop, then a cardinal, Gregorio was named a saint in 1960. Des- pite all this, he managed to find time to enrich the house with an extraordinary gar- den, now open to the public. Studded with statues and fountains, it symbolises man' s journey towards salvation. The villa has changed hands several times since Gregorio' s days, but the gardens are unscathed, with their 60 statues, 60 smaller sculp- tures, streams, ancient trees, ponds, and a maze. Villa Barbarigo and its grounds are for sale through Savills (020± 7016 3740; www.
savills.co.uk/abroad).
Dordogne, France Washington DC, USA
A slice of American history The Evermay estate saw history made on its grounds. Businessman Samuel Davidson bought the Evermay plot, in what would become central Georgetown, in 1792, only a year after George Washington instructed French architect Pierre L' Enfant to design America' s federal capital on the north bank of the Potomac. The estate and the city evolved together, and, at one stage, the latter grew from the formerÐ the northern grounds of the White House, the Treasury Building and Lafayette Square are all built on former Evermay grounds. Since then, the house, built in Federal style by Nicholas King, has played host to American presidents, international dignitaries and diplomats. The sophisticated interiors are fit for such grand company, with a huge ballroom, a formal drawing room and nine/10 bedrooms. There is also a separ- ate gatekeeper' s house, all set in 3.58 acres of parkland. Evermay is for sale through Long & Foster' s, an associate of Christie' s International Real Estate, at $29.5 million (00 1 202 944 8400;
www.extraordinaryproperties.com)
56 Country Life International, Summer 2011
` The house has hosted American presidents and international dignitaries'
On Richard the Lionheart' s trail There is something uniquely enticing about castles. And few have a stronger historic allure than this one in Haute Vienne, an hour from Lim- oges. Local lore gives it as the place where Richard the Lionheart died and is buried. Whether this is true or not, the château has had its fair share of important guests, such as Madame de Pom- padour and Gen de Gaulle. Fully restored, it includes a Great Knights Hall, 17 bedrooms, a dining hall, a concert room, a chapel, six ancillary houses and 500 acres of pasture and forest. Oh, and a dungeon. For sale at €20.4 million through Savills (as before).
www.countrylife.co.uk/international
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