Born in Padua on 30th November 1508, Andrea Palladio spent his working life in Vicenza where he arrived in 1524 to train as a stone-mason. As we shall see, the atmospheric and unspoilt historic centre of Vicenza, with its many beautiful Renaissance buildings, remains a living monument to the great architect. On the first evening we will be given an introductory talk by art historian Dr Wilma Barbieri, who will accompany our tour. Subject to confirmation, we will have drinks at the Palazzo Valmarana Braga, one of the great private family palaces designed by Palladio.
On the Saturday morning we will be shown the special anniversary exhibition devoted to Palladio in his Palazzo Barbaran da Porto, with a display of original designs, manuscripts, models and other related artefacts. We will study the exteriors of nearby Palazzo Thiene and Palazzo Iseppo Porto and walk into the main square, dominated by the Palladio’s earliest public commission, the Basilica. We have special permission to enter the celebrated and inventive Villa La Rotonda, dating from the 1560s, whose central dome was inspired by the Pantheon in Rome. Next we will be received for lunch at Villa Valmarana ai Nani, with its wonderful frescoes by the Tiepolos, father and son. Our day is completed with a visit to the exquisite Teatro Olimpico, designed by Palladio but completed by Scamozzi.
 On the actual anniversary of Palladio’s birth, we will visit his early Villa Godi Valmarana Malinverni, before proceeding to a private visit of Castello di Thiene. A highlight of our tour will be seeing the family archives, with an original edition of Palladio’s great treatise, the Quattro Libri dell’ Architettura, first published in 1570. After a buffet lunch with our hosts we continue to the delightful town of Bassano del Grappa, with its covered wooden bridge built to Palladio’s design.
In the foothills of the Alps, near the hill-town of Asolo, stands the famous Villa Maser, a brilliant marriage of the talents of Palladio and Paolo Veronese. From here we drive to the beautiful Villa Emo at Fanzolo, in the serene farmland setting so typical of Palladio’s principles. This will be followed by a visit and private lunch at Ca’ Marcello, an imposing country villa set in extensive grounds, with original 16th, 17th and 18th-century decoration. Nearby we will glimpse the portico of Palladio’s Villa Cornaro, which influenced Jefferson’s Monticello.
Our stay concludes with a drive along the Brenta Canal to visit the evocative Villa Foscari, known as La Malcontenta and lunch at a local restaurant before our return flight from Venice. |
