Vicenza is situated in northeastern Italy; it is the capital of the province of Vicenza, which can be found in the region of Veneto. The city straddles the Bacchiglione River and is at the northern base of Monte Berico. The city is a thriving cosmopolitan one with a rich tapestry of history and culture. The Palladian Villa’s of Veneto also known as the ‘City of Palladio’ is part of the UNESCO World Heritage Site Listings.
The city is home to 23 buildings designed by Palladio, some of the more famous ones include:
Villa Almerico Capra, or La Rotonda is located just outside of the city on a hilltop and unlike many of his other buildings, he referred to this one as a palazzo, rather than a villa as it was never intended to be a working farm.
Basilica Palladiana is a Renaissance style building, which is located in the central square, Piazza dei Signori. It dates back to the 15th century and is one of the first examples of the Palladian Window.
Teatro Olimpico is another one of his masterpieces; it was built in 1580-1585 and is one of only three remaining Renaissance theatres.
Palazzo Port is one of the two palaces that was designed by Palladio, the other being Palazzo Port in Piazza Castello, which is unfinished. Both were done for members of the Porto family.
The Cathedral of Vicenza, also known as church of Santa Maria Annunciata, dates back to the early 11th century, but it has had a number of restorations since then. Parts of the building are attributed to Palladio and these include the cupola and the north doorway.
The oldest church in the city dates back to the 8th century and is called Santi Felice and Fortunato, while the youngest is the San Marco in San Girolamo, which only goes back to the 18th century.
One of the tallest buildings in the city is the clock tower, Torre Bissara and it stands at 82 meters.
Dishes here are simple and are unlike many other Venetian dishes. Baccalà alla Vicentina, or stockfish, is an unsalted fish, which is dried by cold air and wind on wooden racks. Risi e Bisi, or rice and peas, is another popular dish as is Polenta e Osei. Nanto truffles and Breganze Cabernet wine, along with Asiago cheese and Marostica cherries are also popular ingredients in many dishes here.
Looking for self catering holiday accommodation in Vicenza? Then below is a selection of Apartments in Vicenza and villas in Vicenza that can be rented direct from their owners. You can either click on each listing for further details or you can use our search engine on the left if you are looking for something in particular.
