One day in Italian Vicenza.  Traveling in Italy: a story about a trip to the city of Vicenza

Vicenza - picturesque city located in northeastern Italy. Often it is called Palladio in honor of the great architect. The city of eighty square kilometers is located in the Veneto region. Upcoming major settlements- Verona, Venice and Padua.

The number of inhabitants does not exceed one hundred and ten thousand people. The climate is moderately warm. Quite a lot of precipitation falls during the year. The city has a developed machine-building, textile industry, jewelry is made from precious stones and metals. Modern fashionistas know the town as the birthplace of famous clothing brands: Dainese, Bottega Veneta, Gas Jeans.

It is famous for the architectural masterpieces of Andrea Palladio Vincenza. Attractions form a complex included in the world list cultural heritage UNESCO.

From the history of the city

Researchers of the history of the city find it difficult to name the exact date of its foundation, but they are inclined to believe that it was founded between the 17th and 11th centuries BC. e. From 49 B.C. e. The town belonged to the Roman Empire. After its fall, Vincenza was ruled by the Lombards, and a little later by the Venetians. In 1797 the city was captured by the French. A year later, it already belonged to the Austrians. Only in 1866 did Vicenza become part of the Italian Empire.

Sights of Vicenza

The town is famous for its natural, historical, cultural and historical monuments. They are carefully guarded by the city authorities and local residents. Every year thousands of tourists visit Vicenza. Sightseeing on their own, many inspect, "armed" with a guide to the city. Although, of course, it is more interesting to see memorable places as part of an excursion group.

It is unlikely that when visiting Vicenza a map with attractions will give you full view O memorable places cities. And an experienced guide will tell you many interesting facts about the history of the city and its development.

Olympic Theater

Many tourists, having visited Vicenza, begin to explore the sights from the oldest operating indoor theater in the world. It was built in 1585 according to the design of the great Andrea Palladio. The construction was the last creation of the master. The splendid decoration of the stage was created using the trompe-l'oeil technique, which was designed by the architect Vincenzo Scamozzi, who had to finish building the theater after the death of Palladio.

Surprisingly, these oldest decorations in the world are still used today.

Villa Godi

The sights of Vicenza in Italy are striking in their diversity, although most of them were created by one master - Palladio. For example, this aristocratic residence is one of the first creations of the famous architect. The villa was commissioned by the brothers Pietro, Marcantonio and Girolamo Godi.

Construction work began in 1537 and was completed five years later. Later, the appearance of the facades and gardens were slightly modified. Today, tourists arriving from all over the world in Vicenza can see the sights (description, photo) in a colorful guidebook, which can be purchased at all newsstands in the city.

The building of Villa Godi and the picturesque garden surrounding it can be visited by tourists throughout the year. On the ground floor is the Archaeological Museum. Villa Godi is a monumental building that consists of three separate parts. The Main Hall, where guests are welcomed, has nothing to do with the design of the living quarters.

The flight of stairs is framed by balustrades, and its width corresponds to the width of the middle arch in the loggia. The interior of the villa is decorated with frescoes by Giovanni Zelotti, Gualtiero Padovano and Battista del Moro.

La Rotonda

The country residence, which was built for an official from the Vatican Paolo Almerico by architect Andrea Palladio, has a second name - Villa Capra. It rises above Vicenza, perched on top of a hill, and is one of the city's most popular attractions.

The Capra brothers became the owners of the villa in 1591, hence its second name. Buildings around the world were built in the image and likeness of this structure - the Monticello estate (USA), St. Sophia Cathedral (Tsarskoe Selo, Russia), Mereworth Castle (England) and many others.

Basilica Palladiana

Like most of the monuments of Vicenza, the attraction is associated with the name of Andrea Palladio. This Renaissance building is located in the center of Piazza dei Signori. His main feature experts consider the loggia with one of the first samples of the so-called Palladian window, which was designed by the very young Andrea Palladio.

In 2007, a large-scale project was launched to restore the ancient basilica. The roof of the building was dismantled, removing reinforced concrete floors that were installed after 1945, and replacing them with lighter ones, made of glued beams. The facade of the basilica was carefully cleaned, strengthened and provided with new illumination. The completion of the restoration was planned for 2008 - the 500th birthday of Andrea Palladio, but the terms of the restoration work were extended. The restoration project cost the city treasury fifteen million euros.

Art Gallery

And now we invite you to visit one of the main cultural attractions of Vicenza in Italy. The building, also designed by Andrea Palladio (1550), was intended for Girolamo Chiericati. magnificent palace was completed only at the end of the 17th century. In 1839, the city authorities bought it from the Chiericati family and placed a collection of works of art in it. The building was later restored by the architects Migliorants and Berti.

In 1855 it received its first visitors as a museum. Today there is a collection of sculptures and paintings, a room for sketches and drawings, and a numismatics room. The centerpiece of the display are images from the Church of San Bartolomeo (now defunct) and works by Giovanni Bonconsiglio, Giovanni Speranza, Cima da Conegliano, Bartolomeo Montagni, and Marcello Fogolino.

parks

When exploring the sights of Vicenza in Italy (you can see the photo in this article), you cannot ignore the city parks, of which there are four. These are the favorite places of rest for citizens and travelers.

Next door to railway station Campo Marzo is located - a park that for a long time belonged to the commune of Vicenza. It is first mentioned in the 12th century when it was called Campus Marcius. At first it was just a meadow, but in 1816 western plane trees were planted here in honor of Franz I, the Austrian emperor. Today they form the Viale Dalmatia tunnel. In addition to plane trees, small groves of trees of other species are scattered around the park.

The urban park of the Salvi Garden is located in Piazzale De Gasperi. It was opened to the public in 1592. It was created in the Italian style with magnificent flower beds that have a strict geometric shape and labyrinths at the end of the park. Today, the Salvi Garden is surrounded by a small river Seriola. Two loggias are reflected in its waters - Loggia Longhena (1649), built for meetings of scientists and holding poetic readings and philosophical debates, and Palladian (XVI century).

The biggest and popular park city ​​- Querini, located on Viale Aracheli. Its wide green lawns are separated by an alley lined with statues from the 17th century. To the left of it are dense thickets of plane trees and acacias.

Be sure to visit another park if you happen to visit Vincenza. The sights of this place are amazing. The park of Villa Guiccioli is located on Monte Berico. The old villa was built by the architect Selva. Today it houses the Risorgimento Museum. And huge and very beautiful park, which surrounds the villa, is now available for visiting vacationers.

In it you can see about forty species of trees. Their alternation with lawns, various landscapes, lack of symmetry gives this place the appearance of an original romantic garden. Winding gravel paths are laid throughout the territory.

Torre Bissara

The famous city tower of Vicenza. The sights of the city cannot be imagined without this building. The tower faces the Piazza dei Signori, the famous Palladian Basilica. It rises to eighty-two meters and is one of the tallest buildings in the city.

Torre Bissara was first mentioned in 1174. It was built next to the palace of the Bissari family on their initiative. In 1229, the commune of Vicenza bought both the palace and the tower. Having miraculously survived the devastating earthquake of 1347, in the middle of the 15th century the tower was built up to its current height.

Santa Maria Annunchata

Everyone who plans to visit Vicenza in the near future should see the sights (the description and reviews of tourists confirm this) without missing a visit to the Cathedral. Its grandiose dome was designed by Andrea Palladio, who, according to researchers, was also the author of the northern side door.

The first church, located on this site, was consecrated in honor of the Holy Great Martyr Euphemia, who is especially revered in the city. Her relics are kept in the cathedral today. In the VI century, the temple was first renamed and received the name of Santa Maria. This was explained by the fact that after the Third Ecumenical Council (431), at which the dogma of the Virgin Mary was announced, churches began to be renamed in her honor. And of course, this also affected the Cathedral.

Between the 7th and 8th centuries, the word "Annuncata" was added to the name of the temple, since it was during this period that the celebration of the Annunciation (L'Annunciazione) became widespread.

Church of San Marco

This is a Baroque parish church that appeared in the city in the 18th century. Today it houses a collection of works of art dating back to the 18th century, and in the sacristy you can see original furniture from the same era.

The authorship of this building remains unknown, but there is an assumption that several architects worked on it. The style of the interior is close to the work of Giorgio Massari, a Venetian architect. Some surviving documents mention the name of Giuseppe Marchi, a local architect. In addition, it is possible that Francesco Muttoni took part in the construction.

It is known for certain that the façade of the church was designed by Abbot Carlo Corbelli. The temple building has been used since 1725, but it was consecrated only in 1760 in honor of two saints - Teresa of Avila and Jerome.

The facade of the church is made in the Baroque style. It consists of two rows of semi-columns placed on a high pedestal. At the top of the tympanum are three figures of saints. And in the lower part there are four niches and two more are located a little higher. Inside, the temple has a single nave and six high side chapels. The interior is decorated with paintings by Sebastiano Ricci, Costantino Pasqualotto, Antonio Balestra, Lodovico Buffetti and the Maganza brothers.

Vicenza (Italy), attractions: reviews

A wonderful Italian town attracts with its unique monuments tourists from all over the world. According to the reviews of the latter, the sights of the town are in excellent condition, they are regularly restored, which allows tourists to plunge into the atmosphere of bygone eras. All tourists claim that Vincenza is a picturesque and very green town with many parks and squares. Here you can have a very good rest, enjoying the mild climate and the hospitality of the townspeople, and interesting stories from the life of the city.

The city of Vicenza in Italy was founded, according to various estimates, between the 7th and 11th centuries, although the first settlements on this site date back to antiquity. Over the centuries, the city has been under the influence of the Roman Empire and the Venetian Republic, which left its mark on the appearance of Vicenza. But still, most of all, the architectural landscape of the city is associated with one single name of a great man. It was to him that Vicenza was included in the list in 1994 world heritage UNESCO.

City of Palladio

If we try to paraphrase the slightly banal metaphor about the "theater of one actor" in relation to Vicenza, then with a little stretch this city can be called the "city of one architect". Namely, Andrea Palladio, who at one time created magnificent architectural masterpieces in the city and its environs.

Vicenza is a real piggy bank of bright works of the great architect. Nowhere else in Italy will you find such a "concentration" of the master's works. "Villas Palladio" - the most significant legacy of the creator, and many tourists flock to Vicenza every year to see with their own eyes all this picturesque splendor.

Palladio created many ingenious architectural structures in Vicenza and the surrounding area.

Buildings designed by Palladio are found here at every turn. One of his very first works is the Palladian Basilica in the very center of the city. Outside the city limits, like a magnet, the legendary La Rotonda attracts thousands of admiring glances. Many of the palazzos created by Palladio today operate as museums. For example, the Vicenza Art Gallery is now based in the Palazzo Chiericati - this is the oldest museum in the city. The Palazzo Barbaran is the headquarters of international center who studied the architecture of Palladio.

To a non-specialist, such close attention to the man-made heritage of Andrea Palladio may not be quite obvious. But if you realize that it is he who is the founder of classicism and in fact is recognized as perhaps the most influential architect in history, upon arrival in Vicenza, you involuntarily begin to perceive the sights of the city with reverence and reverence. Let's take a closer look at the brightest ones.

Sights of Vincenza Palladio

Basilica Palladiana

The Basilica Palladiana mentioned above was one of the first creations of Palladio and has remained since then the brightest landmark of the city. The building was not built "from scratch" - the author added to the already existing Gothic building a loggia from white marble and a portico that wrapped around the structure, completely transforming architectural ensemble Piazza dei Signori.

The Basilica Palladiana became one of the first works of Palladio in Vicenza

In the two-tiered gallery, built of white marble, was used new type three-part Venetian windows. The idea was so successful that such windows forever secured the name of the author - they began to be called Palladian.

Palladio himself began to call his creation a basilica, by analogy with the ancient Roman name for buildings of this type.

Palazzo Capitaniato

To admire another masterpiece of Palladio, you do not need to go far from the Palladian Basilica - just look at the other side of the main city square, Piazza dei Signori. Directly opposite the Palladian Basilica is the Palazzo Capitaniato.

Palazzo Capitaniato, as well as the Basilica of Palladiana, adorns Piazza della Signoria

The building and its very location are largely symbolic. Not everyone, even the famous architect, managed to build two magnificent buildings on the same square during his life. Andrea Palladio succeeded, and now we can see in one place the results of his work, obtained in his youth and already at the end of his career.

Now the city council meets in the Palazzo Capitaniato.

Villa Rotunda

La Rotonda Vacation home in the vicinity of Vicenza, which Andrea Palladio built for the retired Vatican official Paolo Almerico. Then the house was called the name of the owner - Villa Almerico. Then the Capra brothers took over the property, and the building was renamed "Villa Capra". Centuries later, settled common name"La Rotonda".

Villa Rotunda built on a hilltop near Vicenza in Italy

The building is made in the style of an ancient temple. Many even draw parallels with the legendary Roman Pantheon, and there are indeed some similarities. Actually, in the design of the building there are sculptures of ancient gods, and the house itself is designed in perfect symmetry. Villa Rotunda is built on a hill and looks simply bewitching.

Following Palladio, other prominent architects picked up the idea of ​​building private houses in the style of pagan temples.

Palazzo Chiericati

Andrea Palladio began building the Chiericati Palace in 1550 by order of Count Girolamo Chiericati. Until 1855, the building was only partially completed, and at that time served as the City Museum. Then in it was located Art Gallery.

Palazzo Chiericati currently houses an art gallery

The building was completed to its current form many years after the death of Palladio, but its purpose remained the same. Now there is an art gallery - the most old museum in the city. In addition to painting, here you can admire an extensive collection of sculptures, graphics, engravings and even ancient coins.

Palazzo Barbaran da Porto

Another "pearl" of the city of Vicenza in Italy is the Barbaran Palace. Its development and construction was ordered by Andrea Palladio, one of the representatives of the local nobility - Montano Barbarano. The architect designed the luxurious residence in 1569, and was able to see the fully completed result of his work already in his declining years - in 1575. Actually, the Palazzo Barbaran was the only creation of the master, which he managed to bring to life from beginning to end personally during his lifetime.

Palazzo Barbaran is the only completed work by Palladio. Now there is a museum of the great architect

The great Palladio approached the finishing works with special exactingness, inviting the best artists of his time - Andrea Vicentino, Anselmo Caner and Giovanni Battista Zelotti - to cooperate. The famous Lorenzo Rubini painted frescoes.

Theater "Olympico"

The staggering imagination of the Olimpico Theater was the final work of Andrea Palladio and a kind of result of the talent of the great master. Unfortunately, the architect did not have time to personally finish his last creation, having died in 1580. Olimpico was completed for another five years.

The Olimpico Theater was the last work of the great master

Churches of Vicenza

In addition to the great works of Palladio, the city of Vicenza has other attractions. At a minimum, it is worth visiting a few of the most prominent churches.

First of all, be sure to look at the Church of the Virgin Mary, she is also the Cathedral of Vicenza. The building dates back to the 11th century, but for almost a thousand years it has been rebuilt and restored more than once. Sculptures and paintings by local authors are kept inside the church.

Cathedral of the Virgin Mary - one of the most striking places of worship in Vicenza

Another striking temple building - the Basilica of the Virgin Mary of Monte Berico - is not as impressive in scale as the Cathedral, but is located on a hilltop. So observation deck you can admire the panorama of Vicenza and Veneto. According to legend, it was in this place that the Virgin Mary appeared twice to a simple peasant of Vicenza Pasini.

According to legend, the appearance of the Virgin Mary was seen several times near the Basilica of Monte Berico.

The Basilica of Santi Felice and Fortunato are also noteworthy - the first place of worship It was built here in the 4th century.

One of the best preserved ancient churches in the city is Santa Corona of the 13th century. It now contains paintings by Bellini and Montagni, available for viewing by tourists.

Finally, San Lorenzo - the Gothic church of 1280 serves not only as a temple, but also as a burial place for many noble citizens.

The Basilica of San Lorenzo became the tomb of many noble citizens

Museums

It is impossible not to say a few enthusiastic words about the museums of the city of Vicenza in Italy. The collections of local museums are among the most impressive in the whole country.

For example, the Palazzo Chiericati mentioned above contains an amazing collection of works of art from Fogolio, Buonconsiglio, Speranza. If the names of Tiepolo, van Dyck, Tintoretto mean something to you, you should definitely visit this place.

The Palazzo Chiericati presents a large collection of paintings

Not far from the Dominican monastery is the Museum of Nature and Archeology of Santa Corona. There is an exposition of two sections - archeology (since the Paleolithic) and nature.

If you miss your homeland while traveling in Italy and want to discover sights with a “piece” of Russia in Vicenza, head to Palazzo Leoni Montanari. In addition to the great examples of Venetian painting of the 18th century, there are several hundred of the most authentic Russian icons here.

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At 4-30 in the morning it is pouring rain in Venice with no chance of clearing the clouds, so leaving here is not at all sad. In addition, three and a half full days quite enough, and Venice even began to tire somewhat with all its splendor, magnificence and crowds of tourists in the center a-la Komsomolskaya metro station at rush hour. Having boarded the train to Vicenza at 7:20 and listening to the raindrops drumming on the glass, once again I had to rejoice at my route planning genius.

Despite the fact that northern Italy is a region, in principle, by no means endless expanses, but quite a small territory, it contains so many different and interesting things that, as mentioned earlier, the roof starts to go in a few days. All the cities of our route were extremely individual and unlike each other, and this was just what the doctor ordered. Where is Padua, and where is Bologna, where is Bergamo, and where is Venice... Vicenza has become one of the true pearls of the trip, but the name Palladio left an imprint in my heart forever)

In one day we managed:

1. It's great to walk around the city;

2. Enjoy the chic sunny weather in the morning, to be upset by the cloudiness that has approached during the day without the slightest gap, to rejoice again at the sky that has cleared up by evening;

3. Visit as many as four museums (the Olimpico Theater and an incredible, absolutely mind-blowing collection of ancient Russian icons (!!!) in the Palazzo Leoni Montanari totally blew my mind);

4. Poshopizzo;

5. Find almost all of the most famous Palladio masterpieces in the city itself;

6. Take a walk along the picturesque paths to the outskirts of Vicenza in order to enjoy the two greatest creations of the genius of the great architect in the field of building cottages for the nobility (they are also villas). I walked along the Rotunda, forgetting to pick up my jaw that had fallen somewhere near the threshold; in general, we were just incredibly lucky with the Rotunda - as it turned out already on the spot, the interiors of the villa are open to the public only two days a week, on Wednesdays and Saturdays, and it was just Wednesday!!! Villa Valmarana, also known as the "House of the Dwarfs", is also furious, of course, especially the interiors; so I lived

7. Climb Monte Berico, a steep hill with a very beautiful basilica and an awesome view of Vicenza, flooded with the evening sun breaking through the clouds, the surrounding hills with villas framed by rows of ubiquitous cypresses and the hazy outlines of the Alps on the horizon;

8. Climb onto another observation deck, lower;

9. To say countless times mentally and aloud the words about what a wonderful city this is, how much we love it and how cool that we came here.

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These are the Spartan cameras of the hostel room Ostello Olimpico Vicenza. The location is ideal - in the very center of the city, opposite the Palazzo Chiericati and literally a minute's walk from the Teatro Olimpico. But it’s probably difficult to endure here for more than one night: you just can’t turn around in the room (but this is nothing), and in the bathrooms (on the floor, of course), because of the constantly open windows, an hellish oak reigned (this is not a trifle). But the price of 44 euros per night included even breakfast!

Palazzo Chiericati, which now houses the Pinacoteca Civica, it is also a civil art gallery. The palazzo was closed for internal restoration (fortunately, because we would not have had enough time for the gallery):

Palazzo Chiericati in Vicenza, Italy // f-ashes.livejournal.com

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The same street in the evening and early in the morning:

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Piazza Signori:

Piazza Signori in Vicenza, Italy // f-ashes.livejournal.com

Monument to the great Palladio at one of his main creations - the Basilica of Palladiana:

At the Basilica Palladiana in Vicenza, Italy // f-ashes.livejournal.com

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Piazza Signori again. On the right is the Basilica Palladiana and Torre dei Bissari:

Torre dei Bissari in Vicenza, Italy // f-ashes.livejournal.com

House of Pigafetta:

House of Pigafetta in Vicenza, Italy // f-ashes.livejournal.com

Around the Duomo:

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View from some observation deck:

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The famous villa of Almerico Capra Rotunda. It would seem that there is something special here - a portico with columns, a dome, statues. And if you think about it, take a closer look and read something ...

Villa Almerico Capra, aka Rotunda in Vicenza, Italy // f-ashes.livejournal.com

broadcasts Wikipedia:

Villa Rotunda, which is under the protection of UNESCO as a World Heritage Site, is generally recognized as one of the central buildings in the history of European architecture. For Palladian architects, this was the most revered example of a manor house. Thousands of buildings around the world were built in his image and likeness - from the American estate of Monticello to the St. Sophia Cathedral in Tsarskoe Selo.

Villa Capra is one of the first private houses in the history, solved in the form of an ancient temple. The building has a perfect symmetry based on carefully calculated mathematical proportions. The villa has four identical facades with Ionic porticos, which are reached by a balustrade with statues of ancient gods. Among the first repetitions of the villa outside of Italy belonged to the estates of English aristocrats - Chiswick House and Mereworth Castle.

Other source:

The first secular building of the Renaissance, crowned with a dome. The building was built in the proportions of the golden section in the form of a belvedere with a round hall topped with a dome, with a light lantern and light Ionic 6-column porticos with stairs located around it on the sides of the facades. Each of the four identical facades with columns and a portico leads to the central hall, at the top there is an opening in the dome. The walls are decorated with frescoes.

At first glance, the villa does not look like something out of the ordinary, because it seems that you have already seen this a hundred thousand times somewhere. But it turns out that in fact all the palaces, temples, theaters built in a similar style (mostly the 18th century comes to mind, of course) are only repetitions, copies, borrowings of architects who were inspired by the original prototype, the amazing Rotunda.

16th century SIXTEENTH!!! The conquistadors began to dismantle the Aztec temples, the American Indians, who had been discovered only a hundred years ago, sat in their wigwams, most of the peasant huts in Rus' were still heated in black ... and these terrible people, the Italians built SUCH.

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Bassano del Grappa Bassano del Grappa,

Distillery Poli (Distilleria Poli) was founded in 1898 by Giovanni Poli. One of the oldest wineries in Italy is located in the center of the famous Veneto region, at the very foot of Monte Grappa, in the beautiful town of Bassano del Grappa. The Veneto region is considered the most successful area for the production of Italian grappa, including Poli grappa. The grapes for making the drink are harvested on the picturesque and fertile hills of Breganze and Marostica. It all started with the fact that the great-grandfather of the current owner of the distillery, Jacopo Poli, got tired of earning his hard-earned money weaving straw hats, and he began to walk around the neighborhood and offer his illegal distiller services to local winemakers, fixing his first installation on a cart. This business was for everyone. And in 1898, Giovanni Poli turned his father's hobby into a real business. He was a progressive and resourceful person. He made his stationary distillation unit from a locomotive steam engine. The slogan of the grappa company Poli is: “Demand good price possible only for excellent quality. A drink of excellent quality is obtained through the careful selection of grape pomace, which is first subjected to a distillation process in a distillation cube. In the production of Poli grappa, only fresh grape raw materials are used during the berry harvest, and at the same time, it is produced 5 times less than could be produced at such capacities. A rather mild distillation allows you to highlight and preserve the most refined notes of selected grapes in the Italian grappa Poli. In addition, both the skin and even the grape seeds are processed, which give the drink a unique tart taste. Another feature of the Poli distillery is the use of old copper stills in the composition of steam boilers, which have been preserved since the founding of the distillery itself. One of their cubes is entirely made of copper, just like many centuries ago. This is not the only example of a sensitive attitude to the ancient traditions of the production of strong drinks, including Italian grappa. The distillation cycle is as follows: first, the grape pomace is placed in a cauldron and distilled with steam, then after three hours the containers are emptied and the distillation cycle begins anew. This unusual approach allows us to achieve incredible sophistication in the aroma and taste of the Italian grappa Poli. The Poli family says: "The secret to distilling good grappa is simple: fresh grapes and a hundred years of experience." Distillery (Distilleria Poli) is located opposite the Ponte Vecchio bridge. Here you can also visit the grappa museum, taste its different types for free. This is also a significant contribution to the history of the company. Poli grappa itself can be bought at the shop, which is located right next to the distillery. Admission is free from 9.00 to 19.30, seven days a week. Ponte Vecchio, Bassano del Grappa Tel.: +39 0424 524426

Distillery Poli (Distilleria Poli) was founded in 1898 by Giovanni Poli. One of the oldest wineries in Italy is located in the center of the famous Veneto region, at the very foot of Monte Grappa, in the beautiful town of Bassano del Grappa. The Veneto region is considered the most successful area for the production of Italian grappa, including Poli grappa. The grapes for making the drink are harvested on the picturesque and fertile hills of Breganze and Marostica.

It all started with the fact that the great-grandfather of the current owner of the distillery, Jacopo Poli, got tired of earning his hard-earned money weaving straw hats, and he began to walk around the neighborhood and offer his illegal distiller services to local winemakers, fixing his first installation on a cart. This business was for everyone. And in 1898, Giovanni Poli turned his father's hobby into a real business. He was a progressive and resourceful person. He made his stationary distillation unit from a locomotive steam engine.

The motto of the Poli grappa company is: "You can demand a good price only for excellent quality." A drink of excellent quality is obtained through the careful selection of grape pomace, which is first subjected to a distillation process in a distillation cube. In the production of Poli grappa, only fresh grape raw materials are used during the berry harvest, and at the same time, it is produced 5 times less than could be produced at such facilities. A rather mild distillation allows you to highlight and preserve the most refined notes of selected grapes in the Italian grappa Poli. In addition, both the skin and even the grape seeds are processed, which give the drink a unique tart taste.

Another feature of the Poli distillery is the use of old copper stills in the composition of steam boilers, which have been preserved since the founding of the distillery itself. One of their cubes is entirely made of copper, just like many centuries ago. This is not the only example of a sensitive attitude to the ancient traditions of the production of strong drinks, including Italian grappa. The distillation cycle is as follows: first, the grape pomace is placed in a cauldron and distilled with steam, then after three hours the containers are emptied and the distillation cycle begins anew. This unusual approach allows us to achieve incredible sophistication in the aroma and taste of the Italian grappa Poli. In the Poli family they say: "The secret to distilling good grappa is simple: fresh grapes and a century of experience"

Distillery (Distilleria Poli) is located opposite the Ponte Vecchio bridge. Here you can also visit the grappa museum, taste its different types for free. This is also a significant contribution to the history of the company. Poli grappa itself can be bought at the shop, which is located right next to the distillery.

Admission is free from 9.00 to 19.30, seven days a week.

Ponte Vecchio, Bassano del Grappa
Tel.: +39 0424 524426

On a hilly area at the spurs of the Borichi mountains, at the confluence of the Bacchilione and Retrone rivers, in.

The center of the city is the square Piazza dei Signori, located on the site of the former Roman forum, on which there are two columns from the Venetian period. Numerous elegant palazzos lined up along the main street - Corso Andrea Palladio, which runs through the entire center of Vicenza. And on the outskirts of the city you can admire the "dachas" of the Venetian merchants - the famous Palladian villas included in.

Weather in Vicenza:

History of Vicenza:

Evganei were the first to master the territory of present-day Vicenza ( ancient people, akin to the Ligurian tribe). This happened in 2000 BC. e. Around the 8th century BC. e. the natives were pushed back by the Veneti tribes - the Indo-Europeans who came to peninsula from the Balkans. When, during the II Punic War, the Romans subjugated Cisalpine Gaul and Illyria, Vicenza became part of the Roman Empire (177 BC).

Roman era

The Romans called the town Visetia (lat. vicus - "village"). Traces of a regular Roman layout are clearly visible in the central quarters of the city, in the area of ​​pl. Duomo, and the modern Palladio Avenue and st. Contra del Monte, turning into st. Contra Ponte San Paolo, walk along the routes of the main Roman streets ( cardo And decumanus), converging at a right angle in the city center.

As part of the Roman Empire, Vicenza experienced a significant economic upsurge - bricks were fired in the vicinity, marble was mined. In the last years of the empire, barbarians under the leadership of Odoacer settled here. Under the Lombards (568) Vicenza received the right to mint its own coin. In 773, Charlemagne entered the territory and the city was in the power of the Franks, and in 962 it became part of the Holy Roman Empire.

Vicenza in the Middle Ages

During the IX-X centuries, power in Vicenza belonged to the clergy, headed by the bishop. but by 1115 the population had succeeded in removing him, and Vicenza became a free commune under a magistrate. Having received self-government, Vicenza for many years resisted pressure from its neighbors (for example, Padua).

In the XIII-XIV centuries, the city was under the rule of the Verona Scaliger dynasty, and this was an important period for the city. In the middle of the XIII century, the city boundaries expanded - new walls covered the suburbs of Portanuova and San Pietro. During the time of the Scaligers, the abbey of Sant'Agostino was rebuilt, the tower of San Felice was erected.

The reign of the Scaligers ended in 1387, when the Milanese Visconti clan captured Vicenza. In 1404, the inhabitants of Vicenza rebelled against the governors and turned to Venice for help. Accession to the republic returned the city to its former rights, but under the Venetian protectorate.

During the Renaissance, the Olympic Academy arose in the city, uniting poets, prose writers, artists, architects. One of the prominent members of the academy was the great architect Andrea Palladio (1508-1580). According to his designs, many private and public buildings were built, which still define the image of Vicenza. The so-called "Palladian Villas" are now included in.

Vicenza in modern times

In April 1797 Napoleon occupied Vicenza. After its collapse, when at the Congress of Vienna (1815) were again revised European borders, Vicenza was passed on. In 1866, the region became part of the United Kingdom.

At the end of the 19th - beginning of the 20th century, industry developed in Vicenza, primarily the metallurgical and construction industries. The city was badly damaged by bombing and shelling during the Second World War, but the residents made a lot of efforts to restore it. Now Province of Vicenza- the third region of Italy in terms of exports after and.

Vicenza Tourist Office:

tourist office IRT

• Piazza Matteotti, 12
• 04 44 32 08 54
• Mon–Sat 09.00–12.30, 14.30–18.00, Sun 09.00–12.30
• Museums, Unified Information Service
• 04 44 22 21 01
• Pre-booking tickets
• 04 44 32 13 48
• Mon, Fri 10.00–12.00, Tue, Thu 15.30–17.00

Attractions of Vicenza:

The main attractions of Vicenza can be bypassed in one route (about 3.5 km) in half a day (if you do not get stuck in museums):

Piazza dei Signori

On the central square of Vicenza - Piazza dei Signori - you can admire two columns of the Venetian period. luxury tower Torre di Piazza reaches a height of 82 m. It was built in 1174 to protect the city.

Basilica Palladiana

On the southwest side of Piazza dei Signori rises Basilica Palladiana(1549 - 1614) - Palladio's masterpiece. It is decorated with two-story open colonnades (the lower floor - columns of the Doric order and the upper - Ionic). The basilica was built not only as a church, but also as a meeting hall for the Great Council. Made on the second floor Big hall 52 m long with a wooden vaulted ceiling. Opposite the western asad building stands statue of Palladio (1859).

Located in the basilica Museo Palladiano- with models and works by Palladio.

Cathedral of Vicenza

From Basilica Palladiana street Via Garibaldi goes southwest to Piazza del Duomo, on north side which rises Duomo Cathedral- majestic gothic building with a facade of white and red marble (15th century) and a beautiful interior.

On the southwestern side of the square is located Bishop's Palace with a neoclassical façade made in 1819. In the courtyard, on the right, is the early Renaissance hall of Bernardino da Milano (1494).

To the northwest of Piazza dei Signori located the main street Vicenza - Corso Andrea Palladio , along which a number of palaces lined up:

Palazzo del Comune

In the middle of the Corso Andrea Palladio in Vicenza, there is a beautiful Palazzo del Comune(Palazzo del Comune, former Palazzo Trissino, by Vincenzo Scamozzi, 1592-1662), and 100 m northeast of it is a Gothic palazzo Palazzo Da Schio, also known as Ca d'Oro.
Santo Stefano

A little north of the Palazzo del Comune is the baroque church of Santo Stefano (by Guarini, early 18th century), in which you can see the Madonna Enthroned by Palma il Vecchio in the north transept.

Pinacoteca Civica and Palazzo Chiericati

City art gallery(Pinacoteca Civica) since 1855 is located in Palazzo Chiericati(Palazzo Chiericati), one of Palladio's masterpieces. The collection includes paintings and sculptures by famous masters of the 13th-19th centuries (Mantegna, Veronese, Tintoretto, Bassano, Carpioni, Pittoni, Tiepolo, etc.), as well as unique historical documents, manuscripts, drawings, seals and coins.

• City art gallery
• Pinacoteca Civica
• Piazza Matteotti, 37/39
• Sept.–June Tue–Sun 09.00–17.00, Jul–Aug. Tue–Sun 10.00–19.00

Theater Olimpico

In 1580, Andrea Palladio received a commission from the Olympic Academy of Vicenza to build a classical theater in the Castello del Territorio area ( Castello del territory). For the basis of the project Teatro Olimpico(Teatro Olimpico) Palladio took the ancient (Roman) theater. A small amphitheater of stone seating benches (capacity 1,000) rises to a colonnade crowned with statues. In the monumental backdrop of the stage, a central arch and four more side openings were made, through which one can see the streets of a certain ideal city. The architect died without completing work on the theater, the construction was completed by his student Vicenzo Scamozzi (1548-1616).

• Theater Olimpico
• Sept.–June Tue–Sun 09.00–17.00, Jul–Aug. 10.00–19.00

Chiesa di Santa Corona

Church of Santa Corona(Chiesa di Santa corona) was built in 1261 by the Dominican order to store a relic associated with the Passion of Christ - a thorn crown of thorns ( corona) .

The Venetians Giovanni Bellini participated in the painting of the temple ( "Baptism of Christ", circa 1501, fifth chapel from the left) and Paolo Veronese (Adoration of the Magi, third chapel from the right). at the last column on the left you can see Tombstone of Andrea Palladio(the great architect was buried in this church in the family crypt, but in the 19th century his remains were transferred to a momentary tomb in the city cemetery).

• Chiesa di Santa corona
• Tue–Sun 08.30–12.00, 15.00–18.00

Chiesa di San Lorenzo

From the middle of the street Corso Andrea Palladio goes Via Fogazzaro(number 16 on the right, note the Palazzo Valmarana, which will lead you to the Church of San Lorenzo. This is a Romanesque-Gothic brick building (1280 - 1344) with a beautiful bell tower (campanilla - in Italian) and a beautiful main gate. The beautiful interior is complemented by a fresco by Bartolomeo Mantagna (“Beheading of St. Peter”, about 1500)

• Campo San Lorenzo

Porta Castello

At the southwestern end of Corso Andrea Palladio in Vicenza, you can admire a number of beautiful palazzos:

• Palazzo Bonin- number 13 on the north side
• Palazzo Zileri Dal Verme- number 36 on the south side.

The street ends at Castello Square (Piazza Castello), on which rises the gate - Porta Castello.

On the left, on the short side of the square, stands an unfinished Palazzo Porto Breganze, which was most likely designed by Palladio and built by Vincenzo Scamozzi around 1600.

Chiesa di Santi Felice e Fortunato

On the southwestern side of the city of Vicenza stands the church Chiesa dei Santi Felice e Fortunato, which was rebuilt in the 10th - 12th centuries, acquiring its current appearance. Here it is worth paying attention to the outstanding mosaic on the floor (4th - 5th centuries), preserved from an older building.

The bell tower of the church - campanilla - is slightly inclined. It dates from the 12th century.

• Corso Santi Felice e Fortunato 219, I-36100 Vicenza, Italy

Museum of Natural History and Archeology

(Museo naturalistico ed archeologico)

The museum was opened in 1991 at the church of Santa Corona. In the department of natural nature, the flora and fauna of the surroundings of Vicenza are presented, in the department of archeology - finds from the Paleolithic era to the invasion of the Lombards, including the department dedicated to the Roman period.

• Museum of Natural History and Archeology
• Contra' S.Corona
• Tue–Sun 09.00–17.00, Mon closed

Gallery of the Leoni-Montanari Palace

Gallery of the Leoni-Montanari Palace ( Gallery Palazzo Leoni Montanari) housed in an imposing baroque building. 120 Russian icons and a collection of paintings by artists of the Venetian school of the 18th century - Canaletto, Pietro Longhi and others are exhibited in a luxuriously decorated interior.

• Gallery of the Leoni-Montanari Palace
• Contra' S. Corona
• Fri–Sun 10.00–18.00

Museum of the Risorgimento and the Resistance

The main part of the exposition of the Museum of the Risorgimento and the Resistance ( Museo del Risorgimento e della Resistenza) is dedicated to the resistance in 1848 of the inhabitants of Vicenza to the invaders. Exhibits and documents from the time of the first Napoleonic campaign in 1796 to the Second World War are presented.

• Museum of the Risorgimento and the Resistance
• Viale X Giugno, 115
• Tue–Sun 09.00–13.00, 14.15–17.00

Palladian villas

In (especially in the vicinity of Vicenza) several suburban villas built by Andrea Palladio (some of them completed by his students) have been preserved - the highest examples of Renaissance architecture, which served as an example for many imitations around the world. Their composition is usually based on strict symmetry.

Many buildings have survived to this day, but most of them are not available for inspection.

The general principles developed by Palladio for villas are easily seen. The project of any of them is based on strict symmetry, asymmetry was allowed only in unimportant volumes of the building.

The main entrance is decorated with a portico. A front staircase (sometimes two) leads to the entrance. On the main floor, in the center, immediately behind the portico, there is a front hall - the main room of the building; it could be square or round (sometimes a circle inscribed in a square).

Country life in Veneto

“The appearance in Northern Italy of villas and a special culture -villegiatura, dacha life, described in such detail by Chekhov, is directly relatedcthe discovery of America. Every time the true joy is to learn about the connection seemingly distant phenomena, to be convinced of the continuity of the world events. Brought from America and easily acclimatized, corn turned out to be an ideal cereal addition to traditional pasta:byToday, corn porridge - polenta - is a favorite side dish in Lombardy, Piedmont, Veneto. Four hundred years before Khrushchev's corn boom the fields began to grow, and the Venetian merchants became landlords.

Estates appeared - villas, the sophistication of which was given by reading bucolic of Virgil, a favorite ancient author in the Renaissance. The villas were painted by Veronese, Titian, Bassano, Palma Sr., Palm Jr…”

Peter Weil. “The genius of the place. Vicenza-Palladio»

Some Palladian villas ( Villa Gaudi-Malinverni(Villa Godi Malinverni) in Leonedo, Villa Valmarana, Villa Pisani, Villa Poiaana, etc.) fully met the requirements of the owner of a large agricultural estate.

Numerous warehouses, stables and other services are combined with the front halls and the owners' chambers. as a rule, utility rooms were located in the basement and in the outbuildings.

Other country palaces were intended not for housekeeping, but for recreation and holidays in nature: such are the villas of Venetian patrician families Barbaro, Contarini, cornaro And Foscari.

The most famous building of Palladio - Villa Capra Valmarana, better known as villa "Rotonda"(Villa Capra Valmarana, La Rotonda).

In this project, Palladio realized the Renaissance artists' idea of ​​an ideal building. The strict symmetry of the facades (the architect himself said that he could not decide which side the landscape was more beautiful, and therefore made all the facades the main ones), the purity of the order, the strict ratio of proportions make this building one of the masterpieces of world architecture.

Villa Gaudi-Malinverni

• Via Palladio, 44
• Lonedo Lugo di Vicenza (VI)
• March–Nov. Tue, Sat, Sun and holidays. 14.00–18.00,
• June–Sept. Tue, Sat, Sun and holidays. 15.00–19.00

Villa Rotunda

• Via Rotonda, 29
• excursions March–November, Wed, Thu, Sat and Sun 10.00–12.00,
• March–April and Oct.–Nov. Tue–Sun 14.30–17.30,
• May–Sept. Tue–Sun 15.00–18.00

Map of Vicenza: