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As soon as they made a bit of money, the rich Venetian renaissance merchants built fine villas on the mainland of Veneto and Andrea, son of Pietro della Gondola detto 'il Palladio', was the leading architect of the time in 16th century Veneto.
Over the centuries countless artists took inspiration from his designs inspired by classical tradition and spread his influence around the world. If you're wondering about the origins of 'Saturday Night at the Palladium' theatre in London, then this is it.
His work stretches across the Venetian plain and ranges from sumptuous villas to the churches of Venice, most notably Il Redentore and the Convento delle Zibelle, S.Giorgio and the Convento della Carita now the seat of the Accademia di belle Arti.
However, it is his home town of Vicenza which contains the greatest concentration of his buildings. Here, he designed almost all of the urban space. Indeed, on a hill adjacent to the town he built is the Villa Almerico Capra la Rotonda, perhaps his most celebrated work.
In 1994 the buildings of the historical centre were made part of Unesco's World Heritage List to recognize their fundamental influence on the artistic culture of mankind.
The Vicenza tourism authorities recommend a tour of 82 of the many villas in and around Vicenza from Thiene in the north, Iazzola sul Brenta in the east and Noventa in the south. As for the west, Arzignano.
Why not try it by following the 'Itinerari Palladiani', Palladio itineraries, which has been put together by the Istituto Regionale per le Ville Venete and the Centro Internazionale Studi di Architettura A.Palladio".
The route takes in Venice as well as Vicenza and includes many fine examples of urban architecture of the time, even bridges such as the 'Ponte di Bassano' in Bassano del Grappa.
Target Travel of Venice have put together a day long tour and itinerary of the villas and Brenta Riviera as part of a longer Palladio tour.
You day amongst the Venetian villas looks something like this:
Palladio's Vicenza, a city the great architect transformed with his imposing civic buildings, basilica and aristocratic residences.
The highlight of the walking tour is a visit to Palladio's Teatro Olimpico. Considered to be one of the purest creations of Renaissance architecture, its beauty and ambience renders most visitors speechless in admiration of Palladio's interpretation of the classic Roman and Greek Theaters.
From Vicenza we head north down scenic back-roads into the beautiful countryside to rediscover some of Palladio's lesser known villas - Villa Porto, Villa Valmarana and the Villa Trissino, to Villa Godi, the first villa designed by Palladio.
Before taking a private tour of the Villa Godi with its 16th Century frescoes, we enjoy lunch at a restaurant built into the old barn of the Villa, dating from 1533.
After lunch departure to the Villa Rotonda, the most famous villa in Veneto. The Villa Rotonda is the epitome of Palladio's architecture and his most celebrated work. Return to the hotel. Dinner and overnight stay.
