Barchessa

A barchessa is a rural service building, typical of the architecture of Venetian villas. The concept was created and popularized by architect Andrea Palladio. A barchessa contains the working portions of the estate, separately from the central body of the villa. Barchessas were characterized by a long arcade with high round arches and used for services including kitchens, farm staff, stables, and barns. As interpreted outside of Italy, the barchessas (barchesse in Italian) evolved to become defining elements of Palladian architecture.