The historic elegant villa at "Via Signoria" in Arsego (Padua) belonged to the noble Venetian Count family, Soranzo, owners of the surrounding lands too along the river Piovego. In 1747, the two brothers Zuanne and Bertucci Soranzo decided to focus on the trade and exchange of agricultural products, with the establishment of a "Fair" to be held annually in their Villa in Arsego. The Pugnalin Valsecchi family took over the Soranzos properties, tooking the chance to develop the first artisan-industrial organization.
During the First World War from 1915 to 1919 the big building at the northern side of the Villa hosted the main location of Arsego territorial military hospital managed by the Italian Red Cross.
Thanks to its huge dimensions and severals rooms, this hospital could host up to one hundred soldiers.
In the 70's the impressive agricultural-industrial park is directed then by Carnaroli Family. Sergio Carnaroli, one of the greatest Italian business man, who definitively settles in Arsego, takes the reins of the family company.
His knowledge, intuitions, projects and investments lead Arsego to a higher position. Business activities involved the growing of Cereals and Soy, Silkworm farming and above all the processing and marketing of Tobacco Leaves.
Tobacco industry becomes stronger and stronger year after year and Agricola d'Arsego's name is well-known as on of the Italian leading producer of Fermented Dark tobaccos such as Dark Air Cured (Havana / IBG) and Light air Cured (Burley).
The Tobacco factory located were once the Military Hospital was hosted, used to process up to 8 millions kgs of Green Tobaccos.
At the end of 90's, “Agricola d’Arsego” lost part of its prestige.
The young businessman Guido Mella took over this huge property in 2003, proud to follow and continue his family business activity and start with new agricultural projects and investments. The Villa and the buildings were restored. The beautiful landscaped garden with stone paths and majestic trees, still hides precious corners as the old shed or the small noiseless church dedicated to the "Madonna della Salute" (Our Lady of the Health).
Nowadays it's Villa Mella where the family lives and the company MELLA SRL is managed. The ancient and aristocratic scenario is still alive and preserved.
In 2008, Guido Mella decides to enlarge his tobacco activity, taking over another Processing Plant located in Trestina di Città di Castello (PG) where up to 15 million kilos of tobacco are processed every year.
Year by year specific types of capital investments are carried out for the modernization and the business development and expansion: photovoltaic system installation, warehouse building, offices renovations, replacement of obsolete equipment, safety improvement.
In 2023 another external warehouse located in San Giustino (PG) is acquired to enlarge the available stocking area and Green tobaccos receiving station.
