Basilica Palladiana, Renaissance palace museum in Piazza dei Signori, Vicenza, Italy
The Basilica Palladiana rises above Piazza dei Signori with two levels of loggias featuring white columns and pale arches that wrap around an older brick structure. The facade is made of marble and stone, while the interior holds large rooms with high ceilings and exhibition spaces for rotating art presentations.
In the 16th century Andrea Palladio received the commission to rescue the decaying medieval town hall by designing a new outer shell of stone and marble. Work began in 1549 and lasted several decades, with his solution of characteristic arches later gaining worldwide recognition.
The name comes from Andrea Palladio, who wrapped the medieval structure in his characteristic arches and gave the city a new face. Today the building serves as an exhibition space and meeting point, where visitors walk between the columns and experience contemporary art inside historic rooms.
The building opens six days a week and remains closed on Mondays, with admission granting access to exhibitions and historic rooms. The piazza in front provides space to sit and is freely accessible outside opening hours, allowing you to view the facade at any time.
The large hall on the first floor has a wooden roof shaped like an inverted ship hull that requires no central supports and keeps the space open. This construction allows flexible use of the room and was originally designed for assemblies and court hearings.
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