Location: Vicenza
Top Things to do in Vicenza
10 Points of Interest & Landmarks in Vicenza That You Shouldn't Miss
Vicenza’s history dates back to pre-Roman times, but it’s a Renaissance figure, Andrea Palladio, with whom the city is most associated. One of the preeminent figures in Western architecture, Palladio built more than twenty buildings here, including the Basilica Palladiana, the Palazzo Chiericati (home to Vicenza’s museum and art gallery), the Teatro Olimpico (his last and some say greatest work) and many other palaces and villas, leading UNESCO to designate the city as a World Heritage Site.
Restaurants in Vicenza
1. Basilica Palladiana
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 2,165 reviews
The Palladian Basilica is a public building facing onto the Piazza dei Signori. Its name is linked to Andrea Palladio, who redesigned it, adding the famous loggias with serliana openings in white marble to the existing Gothic building. The building on which Palladio worked was the Palazzo della Ragione, built in Gothic style in the mid-fifteenth century. The upper floor is entirely taken up by an enormous hall with no intermediate supports, where the Council of the Four Hundred met. The copper-lined, inverted ship’s-hull roof was inspired by that of the Palazzo della Ragione in Padua. The Gothic facade was originally clad with diamonds of red and straw yellow Verona marble, which are still visible behind Palladio’s addition. A loggia surrounding the building was commissioned after its completion, but continually delayed due to various structural difficulties and the nature of the ground beneath. At the beginning of the sixteenth century the double order of porticoes and loggias, though not complete, collapsed. The Council called on many leading architects of the time to resolve the difficult problem of its reconstruction. They included Jacopo Sansovino, Sebastiano Serlio and Giulio Romano. The project was awarded to Andrea Palladio (1508-80) in 1549, following a competition, and he worked on it for the rest of his life. It was completed posthumously in 1614. The reconstructed building was called a basilica by Palladio himself, who had been inspired by the model of the Roman basilica for civic use. The building has three independent exhibition spaces that are used to host architecture and art exhibitions of international renown.
Reviewed By peterbysea
A vast structure filling the piazza. The upper hall with the wooden roof of an upturned boats hull is amazing. The view from the external galleries is pleasent over the market place. Sadly in winter the upper roof area is closed for H&S reasons! Take the lift up!
2. Chiesa di San Marco in San Girolamo
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 4 reviews
3. Piazza dei Signori
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 1,715 reviews
Reviewed By TBBTGrace - San Francisco, United States
Piazza dei Signori (Square of the Lords) is the main square of this little gem of a town, Vicenza. During the Roman Empire it was the center of markets and exchange of commercial business, as well as one the main strolling areas of the citizenship.
4. Criptoportico Romano
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 67 reviews
5. Oratorio di San Nicola
6. Chiesa di San Giorgio in Gogna
7. Chiesa di Santa Corona
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 500 reviews
The Dominican church was built in 1261 to house the relic of the Holy Thorn donated by Louis IX, king of France, to the bishop of Vicenza, the Blessed Bartolomeo da Breganze. The Gothic interior, with chancel by Lorenzo da Bologna from the second half of the fifteenth century, houses many important paintings and sculptural works. These include Giovanni Bellini’s masterpiece “The Baptism of Christ”, in the Garzadori altar, attributed to Rocco da Vicenza, and the “Adoration of the Magi” by Paolo Veronese. There is also a “Madonna of the Stars”, by Lorenzo Veneziano and Marcello Fogolino, a "Magdalen and Saints" by Bartolomeo Montagna and a “Virgin, Child and Saints” by Giambattista Pittoni. The apse is furnished with a fine wooden choir, carved and inlaid by Pier Antonio dell’Abate. The frescoes by Michelino da Besozzo in the Thiene Chapel are among the earliest decorations, dating from the early fifteenth century and offering a mature example of the International Gothic style.
Reviewed By 760billa - Spring Lake, United States
Chiesa di Santa Corona is a beautiful Dominican church located in the heart of Vicenza. It’s brick facade is unassuming and its gothic interior exudes understated elegance. Look for the many hidden treasures inside including Bellini’s “The Baptism of Christ” and the stunning Valmarania Chapel designed by Andrea Palladio.
8. Chiesa di Sant'Agostino
9. Chiesa di San Rocco
10. Loggia del Capitaniato
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