Palazzo Thiene

Palazzo Thiene is a Renaissance palace in central Vicenza featuring a symmetrical stone facade with large windows, classical columns, and ornate architectural details across multiple floors. The structure blends Gothic and Renaissance elements, including an East front with angular stone details and a distinctive triple window in rose marble.

Construction began in 1542 under architects Giulio Romano and Andrea Palladio, marking a turning point in architectural design of the period. The palace emerged during an era when Vicenza was establishing itself as an important art center.

The palace displays the refined taste of the Thiene family through grand rooms and decorative details typical of wealthy merchant families during the Renaissance. The spaces give today's visitors a sense of how these families showcased their wealth and education.

The palace is open to visitors during business hours and houses exhibition spaces with regional art collections and historical objects. Allow time to explore the interior rooms, as the collections and architecture reward careful attention.

The East facade displays rare architectural details like lesenes, which are characteristic of transition styles between Gothic and Renaissance. These elements are subtle but signal to careful observers the experimental phase Italian architecture was undergoing at that time.

Location: Vicenza

Inception: 1542

Founders: Banca Popolare di Vicenza

Architects: Giulio Romano, Andrea Palladio

Architectural style: Renaissance architecture

Part of: historic center of Vicenza

Address: contrà Porti 12-contrà San Gaetano

GPS coordinates: 45.54833,11.54611

Latest update: December 10, 2025 15:47