Vicenza Attractions

The provincial capital of Vicenza lies northwest of Padua on the edge of the fertile Po plain on both sides of the River Bacchiglione. It is included in the UNESCO list of sites of major historical importance, and is famous for its goldsmiths' work and the "baccalà", a tasty fish dish.

History

The ancient Vicetia (Vicentia) was a Roman town in A.D. 49. In the early Middle Ages it was the seat of the Duke of Lombard, then of a Frankish count, and later became part of the community of Verona. In the 12th century the bishops took it over, then Vicenza became engaged in struggles against Emperor Frederick I (Barbarossa) for its independence. In 1404 it finally became part of the Venetian Republic.

Art

The old town, still partly enclosed by its walls, is renowned for its numerous palaces of the 15th- 18th centuries, most notably those built by the Vicenza-born Andrea Palladio (1508-80), the last great master of the High Renaissance, whose grand style, based on his study of ancient architecture, provided a model for the whole of the Western world. His principal successors were Vincenzo Scamozzi (1552-1616) and Ottone Calderari (1730-1803). The leading painter of the 15th century Vicenza school was Bartolomeo Montagna (c. 1450-1523), a native of Orzinuovi, whose works can be seen in the picture gallery of the Museo Civico and in several churches in the town.