A plan of the building appears in Palladio's I quattro libri dell'architettura of 1570, but it relates to a larger project than was actually completed.

They appear to be the deities Diana (with attributes of the hunt) and Apollo (holding a harp), symbolic of the villa being both a rural retreat and a refuge for culture and beauty.

The colossal columns of the courtyard are executed in a rough aesthetic – Palladio refers to them being made of "non polite" stone.

Although ultimately derived from ancient Roman buildings, the columns are reminiscent of Mannerist design and have features found in the architecture of Verona.

They are practically unique in Palladio's work, but are echoed in a gateway at Villa Trissino (Meledo di Sarego).