Within the church, you’ll also find incredible artwork including frescos by Michelino da Besozzo in the Thiene Chapel. His revolutionary book Four Books on Architecture as well as detailed models of his most famous designs can be seen here.Īs far as churches are concerned, a must-see is the Church of the Santa Corona, or the Holy Crown, which as legend has it, holds one of the thorns from Jesus’ crown at the time of his crucifixion.
If you are an architecture fanatic, or simply intrigued by Andrea Palladio, then don’t miss the Palladio Museum located inside Palazzo Barbaran da Porto. An impressive collection of masterpieces ranging from the 13th through the 20th centuries are on display here with particular attention to the Venetian school of painting. Palazzo Chiericati, also designed by Palladio, is now home to the city’s Civic Art Gallery. Shops, restaurants, cafes, museums, and many other buildings designed by Palladio line the avenue. The city’s main street is also named Corso Andrea Palladio and departs from the Basilica. If you haven’t already figured it out, Vicenza is truly the city of Palladio. Sadly, Palladio died before he ever got to see his theater completed. Olimpico also boasts the oldest stage set in the world! It has been there since 1585. Palladio’s final design for Vicenza was the Olympic Theater or the Teatro Olimpico. It is one of three stage theaters from the Renaissance that are still standing with the others being the Sabbioneta in Mantua and the Teatro Farnese in Parma. It stands out because the columns were done in red brick rather than marble. Built in 1571 it now houses the city council. The clock tower, or the Torre Bissara, is 82-meters high and predates the transformation of the Basilica by several hundred years.Īlso in this piazza is the 15th-century Palazzo del Monte del Pietà with the Church of San Vincenzo.įinally, another Palladian monument found in Piazza dei Signori is the Palazzo dei Capitaniato. For more details on opening hours, click here. Today it is part of the Civic Museums of Vicenza and holds various museums. It’s not a “Basilica” as we think of it today in that it is not a church, but rather modeled after ancient Roman buildings. He transformed it from its original Gothic state by adding a loggia, an outer shell, and a portico. Palladio was hired for the reconstruction project on the existing Palazzo della Ragione.
We could say that his masterpiece, although there are many, is the Basilica Palladiana found in Vicenza’s piazza. Palladio was born in Padova in 1508 and is considered one of the greatest architects in the history of Western architecture. Christ the Redeemer was built almost 200 years later.Īndrea Palladio was the architect responsible for the majority of the monuments that have made Vicenza famous today.
Two columns oversee the piazza along with the clock tower- the Leone Alato and the Cristo Redentore. The Winged Lion was built in 1464 and is the symbol of the Republic of Venice. Here you’ll find the many of the sights that are absolute must-sees while you’re here. To give you an idea of just how special it is, the entire historic center is officially a UNESCO World Heritage Site.Īny proper tour of Vicenza begins in its magnificent Piazza dei Signori. The city of Vicenza in Italy’s Veneto region is also known as the “City of Palladio”, the architect who made it famous.
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