MONICA ZULIAN
licensed tour guide since 1992
Andrea Palladio (1508-1580)
As you probably know, Andrea Palladio (1508-1580) is one of the most important architects of the Italian Renaissance. He is well known all over the world and the majority of the scholars consider him as the architect that mostly influenced the western architecture. To have a complete tour in the Veneto Region, you must do one of the Palladian itineraries among the many we have.In the past Vicenza was one of the destinations of the ‘Grand Tour’ and when here, many architects had the opportunity to take their inspiration from the Palladian buildings but, it was also possible knowing and understanding his ideas and principles reading his treatise of architecture that had already been translated into many languages, The Four Books of Architecture. Those architects adapted his style to the needs of their era, ‘Palladianism’ was born. Some examples of this Palladian architectures can be found in many Countries all over the world, such as in the United Kingdom, U.S., Russia… In 2010 the Congress of the United States called Palladio the ‘Father of American Architecture’.
Vicenza was a stop on the ‘Grand Tour’ of past travelers. But even those who could not visit it in person had the opportunity to know, understand and readjust his principles thanks to the publications of his treatise, ‘The Four Books of Architecture’.
Accompanying visitors to discover the architectures of Andrea Palladio is not only one of my specializations, but also one of the aspects of my work that gives me greater satisfaction.
The ‘classic’ itinerary par excellence dedicated to him is a walk, from 2.00 to 3.30 hours, in the historic center of Vicenza where there are the famous Olympic Theater and numerous noble palaces including Palazzo Chiericati, now home to the civic art gallery, and Palazzo Barbaran da Porto, now home to the Palladio Museum.
Having more time, you can learn more about it by making one, two or even more days that include a visit to one or more of the villas he designed, to list just a few, La Rotonda, Villa Godi Malinverni, Villa Barbaro, Villa Emo, Villa Foscari Malcontenta…. or visiting other prestigious contexts such as the famous Ponte Vecchio in Bassano del Grappa or the churches in Venice, including San Giorgio and Il Redentore.
Furthermore the itineraries dedicated to Palladio do not exclude the urban or naturalistic and landscape aspects in which he was able to masterfully insert his buildings, but they also do not neglect the work of another great Vicenza architect, forty years younger than Palladio, Vincenzo Scamozzi. The creative genius of Scamozzi had nothing to envy to that of Palladio, so that he completed some works that Palladio was unable to finish while he was alive or to create his own of unparalleled beauty, such as La Rocca Pisana di Lonigo, but also to influence the architecture of other countries himself.
The visit will be adapted to the needs of visitors or groups of different sizes and types or individual tourists.
Monica
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grandtour@monicazulian.com