1975 – Treviso, Italy
Contessa Emo’s magnificent villa in Italy, built for Leonardo Emo over 400 years ago, stands as an esteemed achievement of the architect Palladio. It has always been lived in by members of the Emo family and was featured in an English edition book entitled “The Villa Emo.” Contessa Emo has devoted much of her time to working with university groups from all over the world, making it possible for them to visit the villa and have a free exchange of culture with artists, architects and professors. Her deep concern led to the idea of developing a wing of Villa Emo to be used exclusively for graduate students to come and stay, along with instructors, to study the architecture and landscape surrounding the villa. Contessa Emo describes herself as a “coordinator” in bringing people and cultures together. She has worked hand in hand with university groups in Florence and has prepared a survey on the need for expansion of university facilities in Florence and Venice, thereby giving students the cultural exposure of both cities. She has served as personal hostess to many groups and organizations from all over the world as they have visited Villa Emo, among them The American Garden Club, The Conservation Society of America, The Smithsonian Institution Club, The Ministers of the Common Market, Princess Margaret and Prince Philip of England, and many, many others. (Deceased, 2003)
