Basilica Palladiana
Basilica Palladiana
4.5
Historic SitesPoints of Interest & LandmarksArchitectural Buildings
Tuesday
10:00 AM - 6:00 PM
Wednesday
10:00 AM - 6:00 PM
Thursday
10:00 AM - 6:00 PM
Friday
10:00 AM - 6:00 PM
Saturday
10:00 AM - 6:00 PM
Sunday
10:00 AM - 6:00 PM
About
The Palladian Basilica is a public building facing onto the Piazza dei Signori. Its name is linked to Andrea Palladio, who redesigned it, adding the famous loggias with serliana openings in white marble to the existing Gothic building. The building on which Palladio worked was the Palazzo della Ragione, built in Gothic style in the mid-fifteenth century. The upper floor is entirely taken up by an enormous hall with no intermediate supports, where the Council of the Four Hundred met. The copper-lined, inverted ship’s-hull roof was inspired by that of the Palazzo della Ragione in Padua. The Gothic facade was originally clad with diamonds of red and straw yellow Verona marble, which are still visible behind Palladio’s addition. A loggia surrounding the building was commissioned after its completion, but continually delayed due to various structural difficulties and the nature of the ground beneath. At the beginning of the sixteenth century the double order of porticoes and loggias, though not complete, collapsed. The Council called on many leading architects of the time to resolve the difficult problem of its reconstruction. They included Jacopo Sansovino, Sebastiano Serlio and Giulio Romano. The project was awarded to Andrea Palladio (1508-80) in 1549, following a competition, and he worked on it for the rest of his life. It was completed posthumously in 1614. The reconstructed building was called a basilica by Palladio himself, who had been inspired by the model of the Roman basilica for civic use. The building has three independent exhibition spaces that are used to host architecture and art exhibitions of international renown.
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Popular mentions

4.5
4.5 of 5 bubbles2,231 reviews
Excellent
1,499
Very good
545
Average
100
Poor
50
Terrible
37

Jack Wilmith
Dublin, Ireland257 contributions
3.0 of 5 bubbles
Oct 2022 • Family
First things first- watch out for the baby changing table in the ladies toilet, it springs back straight into your face, my wife almost lost her tooth while trying to open it! Staff was really helpful though, running downstairs for an ice pack.
We visited on a week day, so there was no access to the topmost floor. We've only were allowed into the main floor, which is one massive room with quite an impressive open vault ceiling. The terrace offers nice views to the central city square.
While I wouldn't pay the full price for visiting this place on its own, it's worth to drop by if you got the Vicenza Card combined ticket.
Written March 1, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

nasty K
Europe307 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
May 2023
The main building of the Piazza Signoria is the Basilica Palladiana , rebuilt in 1549 by Palladio from an earlier Palazzo Ragione. The basilica received from the architect his "signature" loggias, portico and Palladian windows, which consist of three openings and end with a semicircular arch. Unfortunately, the Basilica, like the Bissara Tower, suffered during the war and was completely restored only a few years ago. Must-see place!
Written June 20, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Angelo S
Hilliard, OH5,124 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Apr 2024 • Friends
The building that Palladio refaced to turn it into the Basilica Palladiana is a wonderful building to explore. The best spot if the walkway along the top of the building giving a great view of Vicenza and the surrounding area. If you have time, grab an expensive aperitivo and enjoy the early evening.
Written May 17, 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Cheezypuf
Dublin, Ireland236 contributions
4.0 of 5 bubbles
Mar 2022 • Couples
Beautiful building. If you want to understand it, go to the Palladio museum. If you want to see it, walk around the outside. We gained little from going inside.

There are lots of staff whose chief job is to scold you for attempting to enter though exits or walk in the “wrong” direction. We followed the signs, but I felt we missed much of it after being particularly chased out of the place by staff telling us we were doing it wrong.
Written March 25, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Gardasee-Lakegarda
World205 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Feb 2021 • Friends
Majestic and fascinating. We only got to see the outside so we will go back in better times to see the rest.
Written February 28, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Andres72423
Bridgeport, CT4,779 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Jul 2023 • Couples
A beautiful building located at the Piazza del Signori in Vicenza, Italy. The architecture is simply amazing. As we sat at the Piazza you can't help but admire this beautiful structure.
Written July 6, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Gail M
21 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Jul 2016 • Couples
The building is magnificent, the setting is gorgeous, the view from the top is breath taking! What a perfect place to have our last aperitivo in Italy! Yes, you pay 4 euros to go to the top but totally worth it. An unforgettable experience! Be sure to stop on the second floor to admire Paladio's vast meeting room. Hard to believe it is 16th century!
Written July 24, 2016
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Giuseppe F
Vicenza, Italy97 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Apr 2015 • Friends
The Basilica Palladiana is a Renaissance building in the central Piazza dei Signori, designed by a young Andrea Palladio and in 2014 it won the European Union Prize for Cultural Heritage. It had a quite long restoration period over the past years and they've made a fantastic work both to the restoration of the building and the new lightnings which gives to the structure a gorgeous atmosphere at night. It's now used for temporary art expositions which gather paintings from famous painters from the most well-known museum all over the world (Van Gogh, Monet, e.g.). A very charming and elegant bar has been open on the loggia's roof since last year and it's accessible over the summer period. It's my favourite building in Vicenza and it's definitely worthwhile a visit. I very strongly recommend it.
Written April 27, 2015
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Kathy0619
Lady Lake, FL259 contributions
3.0 of 5 bubbles
Jun 2014 • Friends
Of course, the architecture was magnificent. We paid 3E to gain entrance and walk around the balcony which wraps all the way around. A bar is on the rooftop but we got there 5 minutes before it closed. It would have been very helpful if the people who sold us the tickets mentioned that.
Written June 25, 2014
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

John S
Vicenza, Italy34 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Oct 2013 • Friends
Being on top of the basilica is a spectacular view of Piazza Dei Signori and the surrounding area. If you are lucky enough to go now, they have a very elegant bar at the top of it, serving wine, cocktails and small snacks. A must see in Vicenza, hopefully on your trip you can go to the top!
Written October 7, 2013
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

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Basilica Palladiana - All You Need to Know BEFORE You Go (2024)

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