Villa San Carlo

Costabissara (Vicenza)

Villa San Carlo is a highly renowned and historically important mansion located in the province of Vicenza (Italy). It dates from 1285 and belonged to the Bissari counts. In 1859, with Girolamo Enrico Sforza – the son of Francesco Bissari – the dynasty became extinct and the villa passed on to two of his sisters. In 1890, the ancient villa was sold to Elisa Conte Dalle Ore from Schio, who restored the building completely. The restoration works, completed in 1901, recovered the present-day stairway and state room. In 1960 it was purchased by the Bishop of Vicenza, Monsignor Carlo Zinati, who dedicated it to his patron St. Charles Borromeo, Bishop of Milan and a great promoter of spiritual exercises. The centuries-old park (extending over 60,000 m² – of which 3,400 m² occupied by a small lake – and enclosed by two kilometres of walls) and villa became the property of the Diocese of Vicenza, which restored it.
The structure was equipped with an EBARA fire safety unit conforming to UNI EN 12845 and UNI 10779 specifications, comprising two supply electric pumps and a compensation electric pump.