Confiscated 16th-Century Villa in Euganean Hills Becomes Cultural Hub

Villa Pasqualigo Rodella, a 16th-century villa in Cinto Euganeo (Padua) confiscated from former Veneto region president Giancarlo Galan after the Mose bribery trial, will become a cultural center. Italy's Agenzia del Demanio granted a 45-year subsidized lease to Fondazione Essenziale ETS, a social enterprise based in Rovigo. The foundation will invest €637,350 to host workshops, artist residencies, cultural initiatives, sustainable tourism, and community events. The villa spans 13,600 m² across three floors, including a barchessa, small church, and other buildings. Fondazione Essenziale, a third-sector entity founded in autumn 2024 as a branch of social enterprise Zico (which has managed the Cinema Teatro Duomo in Rovigo since 2021), won the public tender to prevent abandonment and decay. The project aims to create a vibrant space for art, beauty, tourism, and exploration of the Euganean Hills Regional Park, reflecting a model of collaboration between public administration and the third sector for heritage recovery and civic participation.