Vicenza has been included on Unesco's World Heritage list since 15th December 1994: an extraordinary recognition for the cradle of Renaissance architecture (and not only), one of Italy's cities with the greatest number of monumental works in relation to its size.
Entering the historical centre through the old medieval gate in Piazza Castello, you can admire Palazzo Piovini and Palazzo Thiene Bonin. Continuing along Corso Palladio, brings you to splendid buildings like Palazzo Bissari, Braghetta Pagello dello Scamozzi, Loschi Zileri dal Verme with its enormous gargoyles, Palazzo Capra Clementi and the Gothic Palazzo Thiene at the entrance to the Galleria del Pozzo Rosso just before the crossroads with Corso Fogazzaro, once the city's cardo road.
From there, going in the direction of Piazza Matteotti, you can find the late-Gothic, Venetian style Palazzo Braschi with Palazzo Pojana opposite, one of Palladio's early projects with a façade that looks like an open theatrical scene. next comes Palazzo Trissino, the Town Hall, followed by the luxurious wonder of Piazza dei Signori with its masterpiece, the Basilica Palladiana, whose nucleus is the ancient Gothic Palazzo della Ragione, cloaked in its marvellous, world-famous loggias. The 82-metre Torre Bissara and the Loggia del Capitaniato, also by Palladio, a citizen's sitting room of undeniable beauty and atmosphere, are surrounded by countless artisan stores.
The city holds many treasures, like Santa Corona Church, which houses important masterpieces by Veronese and Bellini, Casa Pigafetta, Palazzo Gualdo, the delightful San Michele bridge, the rich Contra’ Porti, the historical Bertoliana Library at Palazzo Cordellina or the magnificent Palazzo Leoni Montanari.
Metaphorically, the city seems to come to a close with the extraordinary Palladian masterpiece, Teatro Olimpico, the oldest covered theatre in history, and the nearby, recently renovated, Palazzo Chiericati, which now hosts the city's art gallery and numerous temporary ancient and modern art exhibitions.
