The Venetian Villa Trevisan of the late 16th c. is located in the area of Kokkino Metochi, in the Southern Province of Chania, Crete, and is one of the 120, approximately, feudal residences of Venetian and Cretan nobility that were scattered round the Cretan countryside.
These villas made their appearance in the last century of Venetian rule (1210-1669) and manifest a very important period in the long history of the island. The villa Trevisan represents one of the best examples of countryside feudal residences, since it combines Renaissance architecture and advanced construction methodology for stone buildings. The subject of the villa Trevisan is seen through the historical background of the Venetian period in Crete and the political, social and economic factors that made possible the appearance of these countryside residences are analysed. The Venetian works in architecture and city-planning are mentioned in brief, while three other Venetian villas in the vicinity are presented, that bear certain similarities to the villa Trevisan.The villa at Rodopou, the villa Clussia at Natzipiana and the villa Retonda at Kalathenes.
The villa Trevisan itself is analysed and examined historically, architecturally and structurally. Futhermore, the different historic periods of the building are distinguished and the causes of the decay that have affected the static equilibrium and the appearance of the building are exposed. There are proposals for future uses to which the villa Trevisan could be put to, the architectural and structural restorations of the villa as well as for the treatment of stone. The study of the villa Trevisan has been further documented with architectural drawings, depicting the existing situation, the additions and alternations of later periods and the proposed restoration. The subject of the villa Trevisan was studied as a thesis by the article’s author and was submitted to the University of York for the degree of Master of Arts in Conservation, in August 1987.
