Discover Byron’s Po at Villa Ca’Zen

Villa Ca’Zen

In the early 1700s, many wealthy Venetian families established grand estates throughout the Po Delta region, using the area for shooting, fishing and crop cultivation. During this time, the Venetian Republic chose to divert the River Po’s path to the south in order to prevent the dirt that the river brought from filling the Venetian Lagoon. Ca’zen is located precisely where the river course was diverted.

The Ca’Zen estate was built by the Zen family and is situated on the site of a small stone tabernacle that dates back to 1459 and is dedicated to Saint Margherita. The original estate included the Venetian-style villa, along with a chapel, stables and a portico. The chapel has a beautiful aspect directly facing the River Po and contains two important statues (from the famous Bolognese School) that depict Mary and the Archangel Gabriel during the Annunciation. In the early 1800s, when the estate passed from the Zen family’s hands to the Marchesi Guiccioli of Ravenna, two extra wings were added to the villa, along with some outlying cottages and several large granary barns.

Lord Byron

The history of the villa took on a romantic twist through its association with Lord  Byron, perhaps the most romantic of all the great Romantic poets. Born in London in 1788, George Gordon Byron became Lord Byron at the age of 10, when he inherited the title and estates from a great uncle.

He was a prolific writer from early on of romantic and often satirical poetry. His first poem, ‘Hours of Idleness’, was published in 1807. He wrote over 400 poems in his lifetime, sometimes under different names, with possibly his most famous being Don Juan.

Lord Byron and Ca’Zen

Byron fell deeply in love with an Italian beauty, Contessa Teresa Gamba. Unfortunately, she was already spoken for as the wife of Alessandro Guiccioli. Despite her marriage, the attraction was instant and mutual, and they became lovers. Angered by their liaison, her husband sent her away to languish in the family estate of Ca’Zen – which was far from the parties and social life of Venice – to place distance between the poet and Teresa.

Alas for Guiccioli, Byron instead pursued his passion and travelled secretly to the estate to be with Teresa. Whether it was due to his own amorous state or the inspiring landscape itself, it was from here that the poet penned some of his most celebrated and beautiful works, many of which were dedicated to his beloved, and the river.

Ca’Zen Inspired Poetry

During his life various people, generally women, inspired Lord Byron’s works. ‘Death of a young lady’ was inspired by his cousin Margaret Parkers death. Another cousin, Mary Chaworth can be attributed to ‘The Adieu’. During his time with Teresa Guiccioli he completed his first canto of Don Juan. The character of Don Juan originally appeared in ‘The Trickster of Seville and the Stone Guest’ by Tirso de Molina, 200 years before Byron. Lord Byron’s portrayal of the character is far more passive and compassionate, with an overall more humorous tone. Don Juan is a satirical series of 17 cantos, epic poems, with the last unfinished.

Villa Ca’Zen in Later Years

In the ensuing years, the estate was taken over by the Casalicchio-Avanzo family. They were in fact brilliant farmers, as well as land owners, and were in large part responsible for much of the land reclamation that made the delta one of Europe’s most productive areas.

It was the current owner, Elaine Avanzo Westropp Bennett, wife of Cavalier Pericle Avanzo, who suggested using part of the country house to rent out to visitors looking for some bucolic respite. Its location in the heart of the environmental reserve is ideal for a host of outdoor pursuits and, today, the villa is also very popular as a wedding venue.

Explore the River Po

Italian river cruises that take in the main branch of the River Po will often offer day excursions to explore the Nature Reserve and Villa Ca’Zen. The romance, history, culture and landscape of this relatively unspoilt region combine to create a truly memorable experience both on and off the water.

Contact our Cruise Team for more information on our Italy cruise aboard La Bella Vita, and discover more as you visit the enchanting Villa Ca’Zen as part of your luxury barge cruise.