Italian
The outcry of the citizens against the state of abandonment of Villa Franchetti was expressed with a strong gesture: a banner with the words “It’s a shame!”, hung on the gate of the historic villa.
PREGANZIOL. The symbolic act has drawn attention to the growing discontent over the abandonment that has enveloped one of the most iconic residences in the area for years.
The villa, once a center of important literary and cultural meetings, is now in a state of decay. Its barchessa and park, once highly valuable places, have been closed and inaccessible for years.
Treviso provincial councillor Raffaele Freda commented on the action, acknowledging that, although it was a “unorthodox” gesture, the protest is a response to a situation that can no longer be ignored. “Villa Franchetti has been closed and in a state of total abandonment for 20 years,” Freda stated, “It is a scandal that we can no longer tolerate. The Province is seeking a solution, and we are committed to reopening at least the park to the public.”
Despite the difficulties, Councilor Freda is optimistic: “Villa Franchetti deserves to be returned to the citizens of Preganziol and the entire province.”
“If even just a part of the villa and the park could be reopened and enhanced, they would become a huge asset for tourism and our region’s culture,” Freda concluded.
“The Province and other public bodies do not have the resources for a complete recovery project,” the councilor explained. However, Freda confirmed that the commitment for a partial solution, such as reopening the park, is maximum.
Meanwhile, the municipal administration of Preganziol, led by Mayor Elena Stocco, has strongly urged the involvement of the Province of Treviso, the owner of the villa, to start a shared recovery path: “As the Administration of Preganziol, we have long been aware of the attention and sensitivity of the community regarding Villa Franchetti, about whose fate we have received increasingly frequent requests in recent months. In the past few weeks, we requested and obtained a meeting with the President of the Province, Stefano Marcon, as the Province is the owner of the property. The meeting took place on November 8th, with the aim of keeping the attention high and of asking for and carrying out a serious, continuous commitment open to innovative paths, to identify ways to recover the heritage and open the park to the community,” stated Mayor Stocco, highlighting the willingness to start innovative solutions, while being aware of the challenges related to available economic resources.
The words of the President of the Province, although dating back a few months, indicated an openness to further discussions to deepen the possibilities of redevelopment. However, the challenges related to the resources needed for such an ambitious project remain.
The protest gesture, with its clear message, is an urgent signal for the institutions. The villa is not only a historical heritage, but also a symbol for the community of Preganziol and the entire province of Treviso. Now, it is up to local and provincial authorities to work together to stop the decline of Villa Franchetti and return it to the citizens, for a new life and enhancement of a unique heritage.
