Benvenuto to the Veneto, heartland of the Venetian republic! While Venice may be the most visited city in the world, there is much to explore in the towns, cities and countryside beyond its borders. Visiting romantic riverside Verona, or Palladio's splendid villas in Vicenza - and the charming villages in between - is a wonderful way to delve into the real Italy.

Take a private Vicenza tour and explore this delightful region with a knowledgeable local guide.

Vicenza is famous for the work of its Renaissance architect, Andrea Palladio. His work in and around the city has become a UNESCO world heritage site. Your guide will walk with you inside and around the outside of some of Italy's grandest old homes, theatres and basilicas, helping you learn about the art, culture and history with which these buildings are suffused. When you're done exploring Vicenza, be sure to put aside time to visit Verona, arguably one of Italy's most beautiful cities.

Enjoy your private Vicenza tour!

Vicenza

Accompanied by an art expert, plunge into the sweet and unforgettable landscape of the territory around Vicenza, which hosts most of the Palladian Villas.
This tour lasts about a couple of hours and a half: after a ten minutes drive from Vicenza, we tour the exteriors and interiors of the world renown Villa Rotonda, archetype of harmony between Nature and Architecture, and main inspiration for Thomas Jefferson's Monticello.
The interiors of the Villa Rotonda are only open on weekends usually from the end of March to early November, so please mind to plan the date of your trip accordingly.
Then, we explore the love stories depicted by Giambattista Tiepolo in the interiors of Villa Valmarana ai Nani, which is at a walking distance from La Rotonda: the best lifestyle of the last century of the Republic of Venice will live again before your eyes, among mythological heroes and fantastic animals.

Half-day tour to Villa Rotonda and Villa Valmarana in Vicenza

The Palladian Villas with an Art Historian

Tour of Vicenza, From Local Architecture To World Heritage

All Palladian buildings have been included in the Unesco Heritage List since 1994. I live in Vicenza, it is my home town and I am so proud and happy to have the possibility to introduce my guests into this delightful city.
Our walking tour includes the Olympic Theatre, the architectural masterpiece of Andrea Palladio and the first indoor theatre in the world. We'll then stroll in the ancient town through the main street, Corso Palladio, and take charming little roads to visit the Church of Saint Corona, to admire the exceptional Baptism of Jesus Christ by Giovanni Bellini, some of the most renowned gothic palaces, and the Piazza dei Signori with the Basilica. Finally, we will visit Palladio's first public building, which was recently restored and brought back to its original splendor and the Loggia of the Venetian Captain, Palladio's most famous attempt to use colored architecture.

Andrea Palladio and his works: the architectural style that changed the World

The Venetian countryside treasures some among the most amazing Palladian architectures, such as Villa Malcontenta and Villa Emo. During the tour, we also visit the world-renown Villa Rotonda in the surroundings of Vicenza, the city where Andrea Palladio used to live and work.
Locals do say: "Venice is beautiful, and Vicenza is its little sister". Indeed Vicenza's city centre, though initially modeled on the Venetian style, actually is an original Renaissance setting that seems frozen in time and is totally out of the beaten track.
As an Art Historian and an experienced local guide, exploring all these breathtaking beauties with me can make your journey different. Build your nicest travelling memories while being not far from Venice shore.

For a full-day Classical Art experience (with transport from/to Venice)

Day Trip to The Palladian Villas

Andrea Palladio was one among the most inspirational architects of all times, and built the majority of his works in Vicenza and its beautiful countryside. This tour includes the vist to the interiors and exteriors of two among the best early Palladian villas: Villa Godi and Villa Pisani.
Being the first Palladian architectural work ever, Villa Godi has a peculiar, immature Renaissance charme that conquers visitors at every step into its breathtaking frescoed rooms and flowery gardens.
Villa Pisani is the first real masterpiece planned by Palladio and among the works he was mostly proud of. The estate was conceived for the rich venetian Pisani Dal Banco family. Still surrounded by a beautiful scenery among vineyards and rice fields, totally out of the beaten track, this privately owned countryhouses expresses the most authentic classical Italian lifestyle and art.
These villas open on demand. Therefore, before booking please contact me in advance so that I can book them just for you.

Villa Pisani's sink designed by Andrea Palladio

Half-day tour at Villa Pisani and Villa Godi with an Art Historian (transportation included)

The Palladian Villas: the early years

Palladio: His Style And Heritage, A Multiday Tour

In 1816, Colonel Isaac A. Coles had a conversation with the third President of the United States, Thomas Jefferson and said that they had "conversed at length on the subject of architecture". Jefferson's words were: "Palladio was the Bible - you should get it and stick close to it".
This tour is a full immersion in Palladio's legacy, from his first steps as a apprentice "stonecutter" to his last astonishing works, such as the Olympic Theater and the little Temple in Maser. In this three day tour we will have the possibility to discover the reason of his World fame and how this man, the most imitated architect in Art History, was transformed into a myth by the universal valid practical rules of his architecture and the publication of the Four Books on Architecture in 1570.
The 111th Congress of the US named him as the "Father of American Architecture" because some architectural monuments in the USA were directly or indirectly inspired by Palladio's writing and theory.

The stage of the Olympic Theater with the beautiful perspective during the light and sound show

Villa La Rotonda, a symbol of the entire Palladian architecture

From Palladio's first work to his last masterpiece

This is a tour of Vicenza and its architectural treasures designed by the renowned Renaissance architect Andrea Palladio can be a fascinating and enriching experience. A mix of the life of a still very active and alive city, its inhabitants and the traditions with the incredibly reach history of the city. Please come and follow me for a day, no regrets!

Vicenza tours

Explore with 6 tours and 3 guides.

Francesca M.

$ 228 (USD)

Deborah M.

$ 286 (USD)

Francesca M.

$ 1,557 (USD)

Francesca M.

$ 686 (USD)

Deborah M.

$ 3,431 (USD)

Elisabetta A.

$ 729 (USD)

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