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BaitoneAlpino Suggests: Vicenza
Vicenza, the city of Palladio: its palaces, villas, the Teatro Olimpico, and the Rotonda are the artistic wonders of a city that is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The surrounding area, besides bearing witness to the brilliance of one of Italy's greatest architects, Andrea Palladio, offers visitors countless opportunities to immerse themselves in art, history, and vibrant traditions. Vicenza's main attractions are concentrated in the historic center, which is very small and easy to explore on foot. They are concentrated in the area around Corso Palladio, the pedestrian street that begins in Piazza del Castello and ends in Piazza Matteotti, crossing the historic center of the city. It is a porticoed street lined with bars and shops: a typical city lounge where people can stroll, shop, and meet. Along this route, you'll encounter several splendid historic buildings, including Palazzo Thiene Bonin Longare, Palazzo Porto Breganze, the Church of San Filippo Neri, Palazzo Trissino-Baston, the Church of San Gaetano Thiene, and Palazzo Leone Montanari (the Vicenza headquarters of the Gallerie d'Italia). The heart of Vicenza's city life is the bustling Piazza dei Signori, a typical Italian square flanked by elegant historic buildings, including the monumental Basilica Palladiana, the 82-meter-tall Torre Bissara, the Palazzo del Capitanato, and the Palazzo del Monte di Pietà. In Piazza Matteotti, the Teatro Olimpico is located within the Palazzo del Territorio. This too bears Palladio's signature, and once again, the artist never lived to see his work: he completed the project a few months before his death (in 1580), and the theater was completed three years later. While you're in the square, take a look at Palazzo Chiericati, one of the city's most sumptuous stately homes designed by the famous Venetian architect, which houses the Vicenza Civic Museum. If you'd like to learn more about Andrea Palladio and his works, visit the Palladio Museum housed within Palazzo Barbarano, the only Palladio building the artist lived to see completed.
