Sightseeing in Vicenza - what to see. Complete travel guide

Vicenza is a capital of the similarly named province in Veneto region. This city is located 60 kilometers away from Venice and 200 km away from Milan. Vicenza is the city of the global historic and cultural heritage and so it was included in UNESCO list in 1994.

Famous architect of the XVI century Andrea Palladio participated in the creation of houses and other buildings in Vicenza. He also created projects for numerous palaces, luxurious villas and public facilities. In Pinacoteca di Palazzo Chiericati you can see works of the no less great artist Giovanni Battista Tiepolo. Also don’t forget to visit a public facility building Basilica Palladiana, Rotonda Villa, and Palazzo Leoni Montarani – a museum that exhibits large collection of icons created by Russian artists. You may be also attracted by La Loggia del Capitanio – a building located on the central square that is now used for the city’s council. Sure, these are not all museums worth visiting in Vicenza.

Olimpico Theater is one of the most famous works of the great architect Andrea Palladio. Even though the building is created in XVI century it is still used for theatrical performances and musical concerts that traditionally gather much attention. Copyright www.orangesmile.com

Vicenza is a city of gold. Many jewelry manufactures specializing in gold are located here. Each year here take place 3 fair trades that attract masters and buyers from all over the world.

Besides jewelry the city is famous for its textile, metallurgical, pulp-and-paper, and pharmaceutical industry. Vicenza also produces chemical and synthetic fiber, and many types of equipment.

One of the most beautiful places in the city is Parco Querini, which is a quiet green oasis, located in the heart of the city. Walking through this park can turn into an exciting excursion, except for the sumptuous trees and plants. On its territory, there are many interesting historical buildings. Among them there is a beautiful exhibition area, which was constructed in 1820. Also, in the territory of the park is the church of Santa Maria in Aracoeli, which was built in the late 17th century. In the immediate vicinity of the park is the beautiful Querini Palace. It is connected with the park, by a picturesque path decorated with ancient monuments. This wonderful park became available for public recreation, relatively recently, in 1971.

In the variety of architectural structures, the Torre Bissar deserves attention. It was built in 1174 and today, is one of the oldest buildings in the city. Surprisingly, this tower, which rises skyward at 82 meters, was miraculously preserved during the strongest earthquake in 1374. It remained intact during the Second World War. The ancient tower with a clock has been one of the main historical symbols of the city for several hundreds of years.

Those who like unusual excursions should go to the neighborhood of Vicenza, where the charming Villa da Schio is located. It is situated in the vast ancient garden, which is of no less interest than the villa itself. The main value of these places is the old winery, which was equipped in an artificial grotto. This grotto is still adorned with skilful frescoes. Today, the old villa has been completely refurbished into a winery. During excursions, visitors will be offered to go down to the cellar, and then look into the grotto where the wines are fermented.

In the heart of the historic district of Vicenza is the beautiful church of San Vincenzo. It got its name in honor of the patron saint of the city. This church is part of the large architectural complex Monte di Pieta, which was built in the 16th century. The church impresses with its strict medieval appearance. Its architecture combines subtle elements of Baroque and Gothic style. This ancient church is also remarkable for the fact that it still holds services in Latin.