Vicenza, the art and the past, today UNESCO World Heritage Site
Vicenza is a city of art with an intense past, in close relationship with its "cousins", Verona and Venice. It is the symbol of Renaissance bourgeoisie but, at the same time, of the gothic strength and medieval roughness. It was under the rule of many Seigniories until 1404, when it was conquered by Venice. In the sixteenth century it lived its golden era. In this period the aristocracy enriched the city with beautiful monuments, thanks to the great architect Andrea Palladio and his disciples in particular. You can appreciate the magnificence of that period simply walking through the city streets.
The "Palace of reason" is the first, real palladian work, known all over the world as "Palladian Basilica".
It was built in 1676 for the family Leoni Montanari and It's a particular example of baroque style, quite unusual in this zone. Now it's the head office of the "Banco Intesa Sanpaolo". It's an architectural masterpiece rich in works of art of the eighteenth century (14 pictures by Pietro Longhi stand out among them), and now it's home of a precious collection of old Russian icons.
As Palladio’s last work (completed by his son Silla after Palladio's death in 1580, and, from 1584, by Scamozzi, the most skilled palladian student), the Olympic Theatre can be considered the first example of modern theatre, clearly conceived for plays. Since 1935, after being disused for centuries, the theatre regained the old splendour with high-level exhibitions and concerts.
