Distances
• Vicenza Piazza dei Signori - 6min walk
• Vicenza Palladio Museum - 6min walk
• Vicenza Teatro Olimpico - 8min walk
• Villa Almerico Capra in Vicenza’s Piazza dei Signor - 33min walk
• Venice 60 km - 1 hour by car, 30min by train
• Milan 200 km - 2 hours 30min by car, 90min by train
• Treviso 90km - 90min by car, 1 hour by train
• Marostica 28km - 35min by car, 1 hour by train
• Bassano del Grappa 40 km - 40 min by car, 1 hour by train
• Asiago 65km - 1 hour by car
Things to do
• Vicenza is in the Veneto region at the northern base of the Monte Berico, where it straddles the Bacchiglione River. Vicenza is a thriving and cosmopolitan city, with a rich history and culture, and many museums, art galleries, piazzas, villas, churches and elegant Renaissance palazzi. With the Palladian Villas of the Veneto in the surrounding area, and his renowned Teatro Olimpico (Olympic Theater), the “city of Palladio” has been listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1994.
Vicenza is home to twenty-three buildings designed by Palladio. Famous examples include: Villa Almerico Capra (also known as “La Rotonda”), located just outside the downtown area Basilica Palladiana, centrally located in Vicenza’s Piazza dei Signori, of which Palladio himself said that “it might stand comparison with any similar work of antiquity” Teatro Olimpico (Olympic Theater), designed for the Accademia Olimpica (Olympic Academy) and begun to be built in 1580, when Palladio died. The wooden scenes are by Vincenzo Scamozzi.
The local cuisine reflects its humble, agricultural past. Simple, hearty meals made with fresh local ingredients that reflect the province’s geographical diversity. Unlike Venetian cuisine where fish reigns supreme, game meat, cheeses and vegetables take center stage accompanied by polenta, soft from the stove or day-old sliced and grilled over the fireplace embers, better yet cooked in a pan under the spit where it lightly fries in meat drippings to create a
crunchy golden outer crust.
Taste a variety of simple dishes, and famous cheeses, fruits, ingredients and wines, such as sopressa Vicentina, Asiago cheese, Marostica cherries, Nanto truffles, Bassano asparagus and Breganze Cabernet wine. Typical dishes include Baccalà alla Vicentina, Risi e bisi (rice and green peas), Polenta e Osei, Bigoli all’Arna (thick fresh egg noodles with duck ragout)
• Venice, not only famous for its great monuments and bewitching atmosphere, but also for its numerous and
colourful festivals, celebrations, revelry. In this respect, locals and visitors are spoilt for choice all year long!
•The acclaimed art and architecture Biennale. These take place each year alternatively from May to November.
•The international Film Festival at the Lido di Venezia in September
•The Regata Storica in September
•The Vogalonga paddling races in May
•The sparkling Festa del Redentore in July
•The world-famous Carnival of Venice in February
• Treviso has been described by the New York Times, in comparison to Venice, as an oasis. “Canals flow in Treviso, too, but trout swims in their canals and water hens glide on them, and water mills still wheel in them...This is the town of radicchio, tiramisu and spritz. The vegetable market is the finest you will see in the world. Its many canals make it look like a small version of Venice without the chaos of Venice.
• We suggest you take a waterboat tour on the Brenta river. The famous villas along the Brenta Canal (about 100) are actually summer residences of the wealthy families who wanted to escape the muggy Venetian summers. They were designed by some of the most famous architects of the time: Palladio, Scamozzi, Frigimelica, and frescoed by equally great artists Gianbattista Tiepolo, Benedetto Caliari, and Zelotti, just to name a few.
• Marostica is a little marvel with a beautiful well-preserved castle and a gorgeous piazza with a human-sized chess board.
• Bassano del Grappa at the foot of the Alps, is famous for its grappa, pottery, and its wood bridge designed by Andrea Palladio.
• Asiago is a small town in the alto piano Veneto. Home to the world renowned cheese by the same name it is worth
a day trip as the drive up is breathtaking. Once there you will see that Asiago cheese as we know it is only the tip of the iceburg. The local Malga or cheese shops produce several types of Asiago cheese. Eaten melted on polenta or
accompanied by the local Rigoni jam or honey the experience will leave you humbled. Stay for the afternoon
passeggiata or walk through the town and enjoy a glass of pine cone grappa typical of the area, but dedicate a
driver for the trip back to Vicenza as the windy downhill drive will require concentration!