For a GIS analysis of the green areas in the Venetian Villas- A discussion of the local cultural heritage in Rovigo province, Italy.

The Venetian Villas, built by the nobility of the Republic of Venice during its golden age, were marks of residential getaways and status symbols. Particularly in the present era, when urban and agricultural growth has diminished green spaces in areas such as in the province of Rovigo, in Italy, these villas, with their gardens and surrounding green areas, have demonstrated that they serve as both cultural heritage sites and refuges for biodiversity. In this sense, the goal of this study, which is linked to the project PRIN SYLVA 2017 Ripensare la ‘selva’ (Rethink the jungle), is to map the green areas of Venetian Villas in the province of Rovigo to investigate their environmental value and potential uses related to them. As a study case, 15 villas in the municipality of Rovigo were analysed, emphasizing the historical and geographical significance of these properties and demonstrating their capacity to support community involvement, cultural heritage protection, and local climate regulation. The study also takes Milton Santos' idea of "spatial roughness" into account, considering how these historical locations interact with their changing function in contemporary times. Finally, the Venetian villas and their gardens present chances for regional sustainable development as well as environmental preservation, but their meaning and importance for the local territory must always be taken into account