The City of Vicenza and the Palladian Villas of Veneto
Vicenza is part of the UNESCO World Heritage List known as “The city of Vicenza and the Palladian villas of Veneto”. Mid-way between Padua and Verona, and easily accessible, as a tourist attraction it is often overlooked by tourists seeking the better-known Venice, Verona and Padua. However, we at Palladio Tours consider it a jewel well worth exploring.
Vicenza is on the main line between Milan and Venice and can be easily reached with the Frecciarossa (Red arrow) fast trains. Vicenza, less chaotic than Padua and Verona, has the feeling of a friendly small town, offering exquisite shops and excellent restaurants. It is one of the wealthiest cities in Italy, in part due to the myriad of small companies engaged in the jewelry arts and the apparel industry. Vicenza is on both Palladio Tours itineraries, affording our clients the opportunity to sample their many wares.
Church of Monte Berico
Vicenza is surrounded to the north by the Alps and to the South by the Euganean Hills. A visit to the Church of Monte Berico will present the opportunity to enjoy an incredible view of the city and the Alps to the north. Since the mid-18th century the only access to the sanctuary was through the Scalette, a series of stairs with 192 steps.
During the 16th Century the architect Andrea Palladio left an unmistakable artistic mark on the city. Palladio, who worked there for most of his career, built city palaces and country villas for the wealthiest families of the town. Five centuries later, twenty-three buildings planned by Palladio remain in the city, with twenty-four more scattered throughout the Veneto area. Approaching from the southeast, the famous La Rotonda (or Villa Capra), sits just outside the downtown area. It is an excellent example of Palladio’s interest in the classical features of Roman architecture - symmetry, domes, porticos and columns.
Villa La Rotonda
Piazza dei Signori/Basilica Palladiana
In central Vicenza, the most famous building is the Basilica Palladiana, dominating the splendid Piazza dei Signori.
Another landmark, the Teatro Olimpico, is the first theater that Palladio planned. It was the last project completed before his death in 1580. Today it hosts traditional plays and chamber concerts. Fortunate ticket holders can attend a performance with astonishing acoustics and immerse themselves in a truly memorable experience.
Teatro Olimpico
The cuisine in Vicenza is sourced from the region – asparagus, cherries and provincial cheeses like Asiago and Bastardo del Brenta. The most famous dish is Baccalà alla vicentina con polenta (cod fish, Vicenza style with corn meal porridge). A more recent development of this dish is Baccalà Mantecato, a cod mousse (very delicate and not as salty as the regular Baccalà).
Baccalà alla vicentina
Bridge of San Michele
Like the rest of Italy, Vicenza’s origin lies far in the past. Between the 3rd and the 2nd centuries BC local tribes called the Veneti were its founders. Later they were assimilated by the Romans who named it Vincentia (Victorious). With the decline of Rome, it suffered the same fate as many Roman cities due to the Barbarian invasions. Even so, three of the bridges that cross the Bacchiglione River, like the Bridge of San Michele, remain from Roman times.
By the early part of the Middle Ages Vicenza had become part of the Lombard League (1164–1167). The League fought for nearly 30 years against Frederick I Barbarossa in his attempt to bring northern Italy under Germanic control. For the next two centuries Vicenza struggled to maintain its independence. Ultimately it was absorbed into the Venetian Republic in 1404. The marks of that domination are still visible on the two columns that dominate the central Piazza dei Signori. On top of one you can clearly see a lion, the symbol of the Venetian Republic. In more recent times Vicenza was dominated, as were most northern Italian cities, by Napoleon and later by the Austrian Empire before becoming part of the Kingdom of Italy.
Come with us to Vicenza. Your experience there with Palladio Tours will be one of the highlights of your tour - fine shops, architectural pre-eminence, historical treasures, stunning views, and exquisite cuisine. It will be a day to cherish.