A Tour of Palladian Villas

Andrea Palladio is considered the most influential individual in the history of Western architecture. His designs based on classical Greek and Roman principles revolutionized Renaissance style and created a style now known as Palladianism. The stately mansions and palaces he created are located in his home region of Veneto, scattered around the countryside near Vicenza, Padova and Venice. His villas epitomize Renaissance symmetry and harmony, and they evoked the influence and grandeur of the aristocracy who built them and entertained in them.

Palladio's villas and his writings had far-reaching effect. He influenced countless architects for centuries to come. Thomas Jefferson was so enraptured with the villas he saw that he based his own stately home in Virginia, Monticello, on Palladian principles. Many of the public buildings in America also display influences from the great master. His treatise, The Four Books on Architecture, is still studied and employed around the world.

Fortunately, the Palladian Villas are located in a relatively small area as they are concentrated in the Veneto region. The city of Vicenza with 23 buildings attributed to the master, along with 24 villas scattered around the region make up a "serial site" in UNESCO World Heritage. This itinerary visits the most recognized and important places.

Start in Vicenza, the architect's birthplace. Here in town he designed the Palazzo Thiene, as well as the Basilica Palladiana and the monumental Teatro Olimpico. Take the arcaded walkways from the Basilica di Monte Berici, passing the 150 arches, and follow the pathway to the Villa Capra, better known as La Rotonda.

Villa La Rotonda. Probably the most recognized of the Palladian villas, this quintessentially Renaissance palace has four identical facades. It has perfect geometrical symmetry. The classical Greek influence is clearly seen in the columns and pediments. Perched on the hill with commanding views of the countryside, it looks like a temple. A cupola caps it, and frescoed salons await inside. This palace inspired Thomas Jefferson in his design for Monticello. It is also called Villa Capra for its original owner.

Villa Godi. North of Vicenza near Bassano del Grappa is the more austere Villa Godi, built in 1542. It has frescoed halls and patrician salons, along with formal gardens. It was designed to take in the views of the mountains and countryside. It can now be rented for receptions and special events, and is open for tours on request.

Villa Piovene. Built just a few hundred meters from Villa Godi, it was Palladio's first villa, and he probably had help from the workshop that formally employed him. It was built for a rival family of the Godi's and was built first, in 1539-40. Decide which of the rivals built the better house!

Villa Caldogno. North of Vicenza, the petite villa is now the home to the town's library and hosts cultural events. It is open every Saturday and Sunday morning for visits, or by special request for small groups on other days. It is now in town, but when it was built in 1545 it had a formal garden and extensive grounds. It is much simpler in design than most Palladian villas.

Villa Saraceno. Located outside the village of Augugliaro, it sits on fertile plains and is unique from the other villas in that it was designed not only as a country retreat but also as a working farm. It has a courtyard for barns and walled grounds to keep the animals in. Columns and frescoes still embued the villa with class, despite its rural character.

Villa Barbaro. Located at Maser, near Asolo and Bassano del Grappa, this is a delightful villa with an accompanying chapel. It is palatial-looking with a central villa and low wings with open arcades extending into the garden, culminating in pavilions. The facades of the pavilions cleverly hid the winemaking room and domestic storage. Inside the mansion are splendid frescoes by Veronese. Out back is a pool and manicured gardens, while a tempietto-like chapel stands out front.

Villa Emo. Located northeast of Vicenza between Castelfranco Veneto and Montebelluna, Villa Emo looks like a grander version of Villa Barbaro, with a high temple-like center and long colonnaded wings extending off of it. The design makes the palace look bigger and opulent. It was built in 1535 for the noble Emo family, and remained in their possession through the centuries until 2004. The facade is simple classical style, while inside are rich frescoes by Venetian artist, Giovanni Battista Zelotti.

Villa Serego. Considered the last of Palladio's villas, it's also the farthest afield, located about 10 kilometers northwest of Verona. It was built for Marcantonio Serego who was married to Ginevra Alighieri, a descendent of Dante, and is one of the most unusual, with a portico that embraces nature in its midst. It is now the headquarters of a notable winery, so you can visit and sample the Valpolicella vintages in the midst of this historic home.

In Vicenza, don't miss the public buildings that Palladio designed. The Teatro Olimpico was built as a permanent center for theater and arts, based on the ancient Roman and Greek theaters. It was placed within the courtyard of the city's 13th century castle and is a real Renaissance masterpiece that still hosts shows. The Basilica Palladiana is a civic center built as a Renaissance palace with arches and a loggia, and what would later became known as Palladian windows. It is in the heart of Vicenza in Piazza dei Signori and is an exposition hall and home to community events.