Hotels Vicenza, Guesthouses Vicenza and Residences Vicenza

Situated halfway between Verona and Venice, Vicenza is one of the wealthiest cities in Italy and is celebrated for its splendid and varied architecture. Known as the adoptive city of Palladio due to the inestimable works of art realized by this architect it cherishes, Vicenza has recently been appointed UNESCO World Heritage Site.

The enchanting old town of Vicenza offers a wide range of comfortable and well-equipped accommodation facilities. Tourists can stay at elegant 4-star hotels situated in ancient buildings which offer sweeping views over the city or at modern 3-star guesthouses situated near the main sights. The hotels situated near the city centre are the ideal solution for people travelling by car who want to visit the beautiful Palladio's Villas situated across Vicenza's province. The city also offers a wide range of cheap guesthouses and bed and breakfasts which give guests the possibility to spend pleasant holidays here at reasonable prices. Vicenza also boasts many comfortable hotels situated near the Exhibition Centre.

Vicenza's main square, the imposing Piazza dei Signori, makes the ideal base for visiting the city. It is dominated by some of the most beautiful architectural masterpieces by Andrea Palladio, such as the Basilica Palladiana. The building was originally erected according to Gothic canons, but Palladio reconstructed it adding a new outer shell of marble classical forms, a loggia and a portico that now obscure the original Gothic architecture. Although erected as a civic building, it is often referred to as the Basilica due to its Classic style. This was Palladio's first public commission, and a great success. The Basilica Palladiana now hosts exhibitions in the large hall used for civic events. The same square hosts another important Palladian work, Palazzo del Capitaniato, also known as Loggia Bernarda.
Walking along the nearby Corso Palladio, which crosses the city from west to east, it is possible to admire the well-preserved palaces built in the Gothic - Venetian style. Shopping lovers can also buy expensive pieces of jewellery or trendy items of clothing taking advantage of the most appreciated goldsmith's workshops and textile industries in the world.
Piazza Matteotti hosts Europe's oldest surviving indoor theatre, the Olympic Theatre by Palladio. It is a remarkable sixteenth-century structure largely made of wood and plaster and painted to look like marble. It was inaugurated in 1585 for the performance of Sophocles' Oedipus Rex and is currently the seat of classical representations.
Both the theatrical and artistic life in Vicenza are extraordinary lively and appreciated by large numbers of international tourists, thanks to a rich programme of events and the numerous museums which are situated in both private and public buildings and host important exhibitions and displays. Not to be missed are the Naturalistic and Archaeological Museum of Santa Corona, which abounds in precious finds dating back to the Roman Age, the Museum of Palazzo Thiene, which hosts prints, sculptures and pieces of pottery of great value, and the Civic Gallery, which cherishes masterpieces by Tintoretto, Antoon Van Dyck and Giambattista Tiepolo, as well as contemporary works of art by Vedova, De Pisis and Severini. The city's art gallery is hosted inside the enchanting Palazzo Chiericati, known as La Rotonda di Palladio since it was the first example of private residence provided with a central plan.