Discover Vicenza: Palladio, museums and sacred sites

Palladio’s Vicenza

Vicenza combines outstanding architecture with museums, sacred sites and a well-established culinary tradition. The UNESCO World Heritage Site comprises the city of Vicenza with 23 buildings designed by Andrea Palladio. The Teatro Olimpico is the world’s first roofed theatre built of masonry; Andrea Palladio constructed it between 1580 and 1585, and it was inaugurated upon completion. The Basilica Palladiana is considered a landmark of Vicenza. Its Serlian loggias, designed by Andrea Palladio, surround the medieval Palazzo della Ragione. In the regional context, according to the Palladio route guide, 16 villas in the province of Vicenza have been included on the World Heritage List.

Museums, squares and historic spaces

The terrace of the Basilica Palladiana is a monumental viewpoint in the heart of Vicenza. From there, the 360-degree view extends across the historic city centre and the Berici Hills. The terrace is fully accessible to people with motor disabilities; a dedicated lift provides access to the second floor. Theatre and music productions take place in the Teatro Olimpico. The Palladio Museum presents original Palladio drawings alongside models and videos. The Silk Hall is dedicated to silk production and Vicenza’s international silk trade. The museum can be reached by taking the Venice–Milan railway line to Vicenza railway station, followed by a ten-minute walk.

Palazzo Chiericati was designed by Andrea Palladio in 1550 for Girolamo Chiericati. The city museum in Palazzo Chiericati preserves and displays more than 35,000 works from the 13th to the 20th century, including paintings, sculptures, prints and applied art; the museum is accessible to people with disabilities. The Gallerie d’Italia – Palazzo Leoni Montanari permanently displays three art collections belonging to the bank and was the first Gallerie d’Italia museum site to open to the public. The Jewellery Museum is one of the first museums in Europe dedicated exclusively to jewellery and goldsmithing.

Sacred art and historical perspectives

The church of Santa Corona was founded in 1270 and was the centre of a Dominican monastery complex. Its crypt houses the Valmarana Chapel, which Andrea Palladio designed for Antonio Valmarana in 1576. The church can be visited as part of the city’s museum system for an admission fee or during religious ceremonies. The Sanctuary of Santa Maria di Monte Berico was established following Marian apparitions on 7 March 1426 and 1 August 1428 on the hill south of Vicenza. Andrea Palladio enlarged it in 1578 with a large square nave. From the historic centre, you can reach the sanctuary on foot via Viale X Giugno or via the 192-step Scalette di Monte Berico. The Museum of Sacred Art displays more than 500 artefacts from the 14th to the 21st century, including Greek, Russian and Neo-Byzantine post-Byzantine icons.

Parks, landscapes and regional cuisine

For more peaceful experiences, Campo Marzo and the Giardini Salvi offer historic parks in Vicenza. In Parco Querini, a tree-lined avenue leads to a small temple surrounded by greenery. Nearby lies Lake Fimon, a lake basin of great natural-historical and archaeological interest. In front of the sanctuary is Piazzale della Vittoria, a panoramic square overlooking Vicenza city centre and the surrounding mountains. The Riviera Berica cycle path begins near the Arco delle Scalette and runs along a disused railway line. After returning, the cycle tour continues to Longara and then along side roads towards Lake Fimon. The grounds of Villa Valmarana ai Nani lead to its frescoes, historic buildings and new park, as well as to an extraordinary late-18th-century pagoda and a small church that once belonged to the Rotonda. In culinary terms, Bacalà alla vicentina, a local traditional dish developed by the people of Vicenza, has been part of the city’s culinary tradition for more than 500 years. The Vicenza GOLD Card grants access to 11 attractions included in the city’s museum and visitor offering. An immersive tour combines a museum with the cathedral’s archaeological area and focuses on early Christian Vicenza in the 4th and 5th centuries AD; tablets, videos, podcasts and animations were used for this purpose. A visit to Villa Valmarana ai Nani includes its frescoes, historic buildings and new park.

Other places in the region

Solagna, Lumignano, Crespadoro, Bertigo, Velo D'astico, Cartigliano, San Giuseppe, Posina, Valdagno, Marano Vicentino, Grisignano Di Zocco, Grumolo Delle Abbadesse, Zané, Valli Del Pasubio, Fara Vicentino, Schiavon, Campiglia Dei Berici, Nanto, Monticello Conte Otto, Primolano, Altavilla Vicentina, Creazzo, Pove Del Grappa, Lonigo, Montorso Vicentino, Brendola, Gambellara, Marostica, Radi, Thiene, Tezze Sul Brenta, Sandrigo, Orte, Montebello Vicentino, Longa, Caldogno, Bassano Del Grappa, Castegnero, Isola Vicentina, Longare, Montecchio Precalcino, Quinto Vicentino, Sarcedo, Sossano, Arsiero, Montecchio Maggiore-Alte Ceccato, Mirabella, Zovencedo, Pantiere, Belvedere, San Vito Di Leguzzano, Castana, Albettone, Breganze, Sarego, Enego, Tonezza Del Cimone, Foza, Villaga, Cornedo Vicentino, Chiampo, Preara-Moraro-Levà Nord, Mure, Sovizzo, Villaverla, Altissimo, Mason Vicentino, Piovene Rocchette, Lovertino, Brogliano, Rive Poleo, Schio, Pedemonte, Lusiana, Arcugnano, Lovolo, Zugliano, Bertesina, Cismon del Grappa, Malo, Vicenza, Vo, Gambugliano, Bolzano Vicentino, San Benedetto, Mussolente, Montegaldella, Poiana Maggiore, Vulcano, Torri Di Quartesolo, Costabissara, Gallio, Asiago, San Germano Dei Berici, Ponte Di Barbarano, Agugliaro, Trissino, Cagnano, San Floriano, Castelgomberto, Canova di Cereda, Villaganzerla, Lastebasse, Noventa Vicentina, Canove di Roana, Lovara, Campolongo Sul Brenta, Monteviale, Montegalda, San Giorgio Di Perlena, Arzignano, Romano D'ezzelino, Rosà, Carré, Recoaro Terme, Cassola, Conco, Campese, Barbarano Vicentino, Nove, Roana, Tresché Conca, Pianezze, Bosco di Tretto, Valstagna, Valle, Mossano.

To the overarching travel overview: Veneto.