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Comune in Veneto, Italy
Photo: Stefan Bauer, https://www.ferras.at, CC BY-SA 2.5 via Wikimedia Commons
Vicenza is a medium-sized city in Veneto, in northeastern Italy, and the capital of the namesake province. The city and the surrounding countryside and hills are particularly famous for the many works, and particularly the villas, by Andrea Palladio; a group of Palladio buildings are a .
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Palazzo della Ragione
Despite its name, the Basilica has always been a civic, rather than religious, building, housing the local government. It became famous for its extensive and long-lasting (1549-1617) redesign and reconstruction by the local architect Andrea Palladio, who added a renaissance outer shell to the partially collapsed Gothic original structure. Being his first large-scale work, it provided the income and recognition needed for him to become the famous name throughout the region, Italy and the world. Palladio called the redesigned civic building basilica per Roman tradition, and also posthumously lent his name as a descriptive adjective. Adjoining the building still is the old and leaning clock tower constructed and reconstructed between the 11th and 15th centuries. Following an extensive renovation project, the Basilica is now home to the Museo del Gioiello jewellery museum.
Right in front of Basilica Palladiana on Piazza dei Signori. Also made by Palladio around 1571, but in red brick without any stucco. Built later in Palladio's career, this building's Neoclassical style stands in great juxtaposition to the Basilica across it and is a testament to Palladio's artistic development. Closed to the public except during exhibitions.
Teatro Olimpico anchors one end of Corso Palladio and is arguably one of Palladio's two great masterpieces. Teatro Olimpico is the oldest enclosed theater in the world, and is most noteworthy for its use of Renaissance perspective in a three-dimensional space. The façade is decorated with stone carvings, wooden statues, and painted tromp l'oeil to make it look like a busy street scene. The theater is open Tu-Su 09:00-17:00. It is also possible to attend performances in the theater, especially during the months of July (during the city's Jazz Festival) and October (during the Classical Theater cycle).
Chiesa di Santa Corona was built in 1261 to house relics from Christ's crown of thorns. Nowadays, it's most important possession are a chapel designed by Palladio, Veronese's Adoration of the Magi and Bellini's Baptism of Christ.
It is further down the street from Chiesa di Santa Corona. A beautifully decorated palace, the building houses a decent collection of Russian icons as well as a collection of capricci and paintings by Pietro Longhi.
It is a monumental palace built by Palladio, and the first in Palladio's career to include columns running along the entire length of the building's façade.
Palazzo Barbaran is the only palace started and completed by Palladio in the city center. The interior of the palace is decorated with frescoes, most noteworthy of which are the ones done by Zelotti. Open W 10:00-18:00.
It is a beautiful palace designed by Palladio. Sadly, it is the headquarters of a bank, so much of the interior has been changed to accommodate its present purpose. The owners, however, own a great number of works of art. These are typically put on display from time to time.
One of the few remaining traces of Roman Vicenza, these tunnels were formerly used as walkways between villas to protect the walker from the elements. Located in an obscure corner of Piazza Duomo.
One of the oldest structures in Vicenza. Built in 300 AD, the church is one of the most important examples of paleo-Christian architecture in northern Italy. Inside, mosaic floors and frescoes are lit by a singular rose window.
Visible from every part of the city center, this church was built in the 19th century to replace a Gothic structure built to honor a promise the city made to the Virgin Mary to build a church after a devastating plague ended. An apparition was purported to have occurred here, and every 8 September flocks of devotees walk from the base of the hill up to the church. The walk from the town to the church is lined with beautiful porticoes. The interior of the church is the mostly richly decorated in the city, with an overabundant use of gold, marble and fresco work. In the old convent is a huge painting by Veronese the "Supper of St. Gregory the Great." Torn apart into 32 pieces during the Austrian invasion, the painting was miraculously pieced together and later restored to its original location.
Consists of three buildings - the owner's residence, a guest house, and stables constructed between 1669 and 1720. As pretty and serene the villa's setting is, the reason to visit this villa is its interiors. All three buildings are extensively covered with frescoes by Giamattista and Giandomenico Tiepolo, who were hired by the Valamrana family in 1757. Light, airy, and decidedly Rococo, the villa is the Tiepolos' masterpiece and one of the pinnacles of Rococo art in Europe.
It is the highlight—and sometimes, main and only reason—of anyone's trip to Vicenza. Designed by Palladio in 1591, it is the architect's thesis project, containing all of his revolutionary ideas into one perfect and harmonious building. It is hard sometimes to see the building for what it is, especially for American and British tourists, because it has been copied so many times and inspired other great buildings all over the world. Opinions vary on the interior: to some it's impressive while to others it verges on the tawdry. The grounds are open on Tuesdays to Sundays, 10:00-12:00 and 15:00-18:00. the interior is only open on Wednesdays and Saturdays. The entire villa is closed from November to February. The best time to visit is in late Spring, when the surrounding hills are covered with fiery-red poppies. Even if the villa is closed, it is often enough just to admire the villa from the gate and from the road, the way it is intended to be seen by non-residents.
Palazzo Chiericati is possibly the most magnificent urban palazzo in Vicenza, right across the street from Teatro Olimpico. The palazzo's façade is strikingly decorated with a colonnade and a series of statues lining its cornice. The interiors are not as magnificent, but it houses the city's picture gallery with works from the Tiepolos, Veronese, Bellini, Titian, and local Vicentine artists. In the palazzo's main foyer, there is an amusingly unusual ceiling fresco - people and animals are painted from the 'natural' perspective.
Holds a small natural exhibit and archaeological finds tracing Vicenza's history from the prehistoric period up to the Lombard invasion.
Sbout 1 km from the Monte Berico church, this museum traces Vicenza's involvement in Italy's unification in the 19th century.
Museo Diocesano contains artifacts and treasures from the nearby Duomo, archaeological finds chronicling the long history of Catholicism in Vicenza and oddly enough, a very big display of marble balls.
The city's main square and its love letter to Palladio.
The main entrance to the city and the main terminal for bus within the city walls. Also contains Palladio's incomplete Palazzo Porto.
Right outside il Santuario di Monte Berico, affording the best panoramic view of the city. Especially pretty on a clear day with views of the surrounding prealpine and alpine mountains protecting the city from the north. The best place in town to grab a spritz and watch the sunset.
Contains a popular dog park and the town's luna park open during the first and second weeks of September.
Sculptures and the closest green space to the old town.
A pleasant park on the northern part of town and a good place to see tree blossoms in the Spring.
A good and inexpensive self-service restaurant in Piazza del Duomo. Mondays to Fridays, 12:00-15:00 and 21:00-22:00.
The best pizzeria within the city center and very popular with the locals.
Contra' Pedemuro San Biagio, 90. A small intimate dining room with constantly rotating seasonal menus.
A store with gelato flavours designed by Michelin-starred chefs. Their "classic" flavours are good, but for the price does not compare to Tutto Gelato. Instead, go for their more adventurous flavors featuring ingredients such as ginger, licorice and peanuts.
This is the restaurant many locals take out-of-towners to show them classic vicentino cuisine. Good food, hefty price tag.
The NH Jolly Tiepolo is a modern and elegant structure, built in 2000. The location between the exhibition centre, shopping district and the historical district, makes the hotel the perfect place whether you are travelling for business or leisure purposes.
A relatively cheap yet seriously cool hotel located just a few steps from Palazzo Chericati.
At the Vicenza Est Highway exit, only 8 minutes from the city centre. It offers comfortable rooms and suites, conference spaces, a restaurant and pizzeria, a private garden with pool and a brand new spa with body treatments.
By car
Vicenza could be reached via the following highways: A4 - from Torino, Milan, Venice or Trieste; A31 - from Schio, Asiago, and Bassano del Grappa; A22 - From Bolzano, Trento, Garda Lake, Mantova and…
By bus
Vicenza is connected to other cities with a bus service offered by Ferrovie Tramvie Vicentine.
By bicycle
If you are up for it, it is easy to reach Vicenza via the smaller roads listed above via bicycle.
By bicycle
There are a number of bicycle rental companies in Vicenza as well as surrounding towns and cities that service Vicenza.
By bus
The city is well-serviced by bus. Times and schedules are posted on their website (in Italian only). The most important lines are #1 to the shopping malls and #8 to the Rotonda.
By car
Vicenza's city center is small enough that there is no need for a car if you only want to explore the city center, Monte Berico and the Rotonda.
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