Half Day Tour to Vicenza

DEPARTURE FROM PADUA OR ABANO / MONTEGROTTO TERME Vicenza's golden age began in 1540, when the Venetian aristocracy decided to reorganise the city and its countryside and called Andrea di Pietro della Gondola, known as Palladio, one of the greatest architects of the time, for the arduous task. ‘The city of Vicenza and Palladio's villas in the Veneto region’ have thus been nominated a UNESCO Site for a total of 23 palaces in Vicenza and 24 villas in the surrounding area. The tour will start from the central Piazza dei Signori with its elegant monuments and we will have a stroll around the city, including Corso Palladio the main street of the city. It will not miss the visit to the Basilica Palladiana, a masterpiece by Andrea Palladio (in case of closure we will visit the Church of Santa Corona). Finally we will visit the Sanctuary of the Madonna di Monte Berico, and from the square in front you can admire a fantastic view of the city of Vicenza.

1. 1

   Santuario della Madonna di Monte Berico

   45 min

   The origins of the Sanctuary of Monte Berico are linked to two apparitions of the Madonna to Vincenza Pasini, a woman bringing food to her husband who was working on the hill: the first on 7 March 1426, the second on 1 August 1428. Our Lady promised an end to the plague and asked that a church be dedicated to her in that place. So in 1428, within a few months, the first late Gothic church and a small cenoby were built to house a religious community dedicated to welcoming pilgrims.

2. 2

   Basilica Palladiana

   1 hour

   The Basilica Palladiana, listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1994, is the symbol of the city of Vicenza. The beating heart of Vicenza's political and economic activity, in medieval times the Palazzo della Ragione appeared as a Gothic building, characterised by an enormous hall on the upper floor and animated on the ground floor by an active group of workshops. Following the collapse of the 15th-century loggias designed by Tommaso Formenton, in the 16th century the City Council discussed the renovation of the building: the great names of architecture of the time were involved, from Giulio Romano to Sebastiano Serlio, from Jacopo Sansovino to Michele Sanmicheli. In spite of such illustrious opinions, in March 1546, the Council approved the design of a local architect of only thirty-eight years of age, who was decidedly little known at the time: Andrea Palladio.

3. 3

   Corso Palladio

   Pass by

   Walking tour of the city of Vicenza

• Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller
• Service animals allowed
• Public transportation options are available nearby
• Specialized infant seats are available
• Suitable for all physical fitness levels

For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.