Vicenza

Vicenza
In Vicenza and the Veneto the wealth and stability of the Venetian empire helped create the Palladian style in architecture, which became influential all over Europe and the United States.

Andrea Palladio (born as Andrea di Pietro della Gondola, 1508-1580) was educated as a stonecutter. After studying classical architecture in Rome, he developed the style named after him. In Palladianism, a villa has a dominant central focal element flanked by lower servant wings. It is strongly inspired by classical Roman principles.

In Vicenza and its outskirts, the following monuments are designated:
• Palazzo Barbaran da Porto
• Palazzo Poiana
• Palazzo Civena Trissino
• Palazzo Thiene di Scandiano
• Palazzo da Porto - Festa
• Logge della Basilica - the “Basilica Palladiana”
• Loggia del Capitaniato, now the Loggia dell’Amministrazione Communale
• Palazzo Valmarana-Braga
• Palazzo Thiene-Benin-Longare
• Palazzo da Porto-Breganze
• Palazzo Chiericati, now the Museo Civico
• Teatro Olimpico
• Arco delle Scalette
• Palazzo da Monte-Migliorini
• Palazzo da Schio
• Casa Cogollo
• Church of Santa Maria Nuova
• Loggia Valmarana in Giardino Salvi
• Palazzo Garzadori-Bortolan
• The dome of the Cathedral
• Door on the north side of the Cathedral
• Palazzo Capra
• Valmarana Chapel, Church of Santa Corona
• Villa Trissino, now Trettenero, Cricoli
• Villa Gazzotti, now Curti, Bertesina
• Villa Capra, now Valamarana - “La Rotonda”

The site was extended in 1995 to include 21 rural villas in the wider Veneto region, also designed by Palladio. They can be divided into working villa-farms and summer residences.


Year Decision Comments
1996Extended22 Palladian villas added
1994 Inscribed Reasons for inscription



Visit April 2007

Vicenza seems to be just another Italian town with a historic city center. Its main street, the Corso Andrea Palladio, is named after its most famous citizen: the architect Palladio. In this street there are already some of his palazzi. More grand is the Piazza dei Signori, the town’s central square. There’s a huge Basilica, a strange classical building which was meant as a meeting place and is now quite derelict. On the opposite side is the fascinating Loggia del Capitano that has many sculptures.

At the far end of the town is an inconspicuous sight at first, but a real treat: the Teatro Olimpico. This was the last building planned by Palladio, however he died a few months after construction had started in 1580. Vincenzo Scamozzi finished this work that was aimed to fulfill the humanistic and artistic needs of the intellectuals of that time. The stage is a real masterpiece, you're just waiting for the moment that some ancient Roman actors will show up and start the play.

It had started to rain a little when I went on my way to visit ‘La Rotonda’, one of Palladio’s masterpieces just outside town. There’s a foot- and bike path that leads you there, a pleasant walk when the weather is fine enough. First you pass the elegant Villa Valmarana ai Nani. The second turn to the right is the way up to La Rotonda. It was already noon, so I knew then that I wasn’t going to make it: the gardens have very limited opening hours (the interior even more so). Unfortunately I wasn't allowed more than a glimpse from the front gate.

More photos can be found in the Picture Gallery

Reviews

Graeme Ramshaw ():
The town of Palladio, Vicenza, to this day bears witness to the architectural feats of its most famous resident. From the immense Basilica that dominates the Palazzo dei Signori to the perfect geometry of the villa, La Rotonda, that watches over the town from afar, Palladio's genius is everywhere on display. Of particular note are the Teatro Olimpico, which Palladio designed but died before completing, and the street, Contra Porti, along which many of his finest palazzi reside. Vicenza is a short hop from Venice and Padua, certainly worth a day if you have it in your schedule and a must for you architecture buffs.
 


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