The historical Ice-house

Ice-houses were an essential feature of Villas, particularly during the long period before the invention of mechanical refrigeration. Their primary function was to store ice, which was essential for keeping food and drinks cool during the summer months.

Generally built in shaded, underground areas, they exploited the insulating properties of the soil, which was able to maintain a stable temperature conducive to long-term preservation. Ice, collected during the winter from frozen lakes, was carefully stored inside, where it could last for several months.

The Ice-house in the Rechsteiner Park, a silent witness to history, was converted into an air-raid shelter during the wars of the last century, temporarily serving as a bunker. In recent decades, the Ice-house has been used in many different ways: as a den for badgers first and then for foxes, as an art refuge and an exclusive location for special tastings.

In 2024, the small hill was redeveloped by students from the Artistic Gardening Course of Treviso, who removed invasive vegetation and restored the panoramic path that now leads to the Ice-house, offering new perspectives on the Park.