[Veneto] Tomba Brion by Carlo Scarpa

It is a mistake to think at this tomb simply as a place where two bodies are buried. Tomba Brion is indeed an architectural complex made of several small constructions and spaces.

The entrance at the complex

I got the chance to visit the place during a travel organized by Magis (the design company) and we reached the cemetery of San Vito d’Altivole by van. As long as I have seen, it is a bad idea to reach the place by public transportations.

The local cemetery has a different aesthetic!

The view at the left of the entrance

The actual tomb and the local church in the back

A view of the tomb from the local cemetery

The water path linking the tomb to the meditation pavillion

Detail of the steps

Tomba Brion was constructed starting from 1969 according to the will of Onorina Brion after the death of the husband Giuseppe, founder of the internationally recognized Brionvega electronics company.

It is clear that such a rich family found the need to create a monumental space that would be different from the local cemetery taking distances from common traditional Italian tombs. And the entrance at the mausoleum is quite clear in this sense. A small building giving access to the area (the propylaeum) presents the two iconic crosses circles, a blue and a pink shape, symbol of the two buried bodies, Onorina and Giuseppe.

At your the left, the L shaped complex presents the tombs and a series of spaces culminating into a chapel. At your right, a hiding door (it slides beneath the feet level with a complex mechanism of joints) gives access to a small meditation pavilion, surrounded by water.

Inside the chapel

The chapel is surrounded by an evocative water tank

My opinion about this place might not be the expected one. Of course, Carlo Scarpa has been a great Italian architect, but I felt that it was “too much”.

What I mean is that the architectural complexity of Tomba Brion is a concrete cloud of ideas compressed in one single project that can easily confuse the visitor by many details realized. I would have rather appreciated better if each building was separated from the other and if each construction was put in a different context.

The meditation pavillion

Carlo Scarpa and wife tomb

Beyond critics, at the exit of the tomb, turning at your right, you can find a hidden corner where Carlo Scarpa and his wife were buried.

In order to conclude the visit, I suggest going to the Pasticceria Sarti in Piazza San Vito. Here you can also find interesting publications about the tomb and the local attractions (Veneto is full of Palladian villas!!).

Guys, if you like weekend trips click here. You will find a lot of nice spots to visit in one or two days that are not far from Milan.

For more places to visit in Italy and abroad, check the page with all my travel maps. They are full of tips from locals and, more importantly, they are for free!