Palladio & the Villas of the Veneto

21 Oct — 30 Oct 2021 | Tour Director: Charles Hind

Book Now

Description

• Learn about the life of Andrea Palladio, and visit both famous and lesser-known villas in and around Vicenza and Padua

• Explore sites including Villa Godi, Palladio’s earliest country house, and the Villa Porto Colleoni, the most important 15th century villa of the region

• Cruise along the Brenta Canal into Venice to discover Palladio’s religious architecture

moreless

Please note that the below itinerary represents a guide to what we hope to offer, and some elements may be subject to change or confirmation nearer the time.

Even five centuries after his birth, Andrea Palladio (1508–1580) remains one of the most distinguished figures in the history of western architecture. Born in Padua, Palladio trained originally as a stonecutter and mason in Vicenza, a picturesque historical town packed with delightful palazzi and public buildings.

Palladian highlights in the countryside outside Vicenza will include some of his most beautiful works, notably the Villa Emo at Fanzolo, and his earliest country house, the frescoed Villa Godi. We will also turn our attention to the sumptuously decorated La Rotonda, whose central dome (inspired by the Pantheon of ancient Rome) and quadruple porticos are amongst Palladio’s most imitated motifs.

A leisurely cruise along the Brenta Canal will take us to our second base, Venice, where our focus will shift to Palladio’s religious architecture: not just San Giorgio Maggiore, occupying its own island opposite the monumental Doge’s Palace, but also San Francesco della Vigna, Palladio’s first church façade. We will have the opportunity to take in Venice’s major sites – such as the Arsenale and the Rialto Bridge.

The Palazzo Querini-Stampalia, Church of Santa Maria Formosa and the Palazzo Grimani will be further highlights of our time in Venice. Although Palladio himself did not design the latter building, it was home to some of his patrons, and contains extraordinary 16th century interiors, despite being virtually unknown.

Our first five nights will be spent in the heart of Vicenza at the Hotel Campo Marzio. We will then transfer to Venice for four nights at the Hotel Ca’ dei Conti, close to St Mark’s Square.

This tour will be led by architectural historian Charles Hind, MA, FSA. Charles is a Visiting Fellow at Vicenza’s Centro Palladio and H J Heinz Curator of Drawings at the Royal Institute of British Architects, which owns the vast majority of Palladio’s surviving drawings. He is also a Fellow of the Society of Antiquaries and a Trustee of the Walpole Society.

Tour Director

Charles Hind,

MA, FSA

architectural historian and Chief Curator and H J Heinz Curator of Drawings at the RIBA

full biography and other tours

Itinerary

Day

1

Depart London Gatwick 1150 on British Airways, arriving Venice 1500. Transfer to Vicenza for five nights at Hotel Campo Marzio.

Day

2

Excursion to villas south of Vicenza: Villa Pisani La Rocca (by Scamozzi) and Villa Pisani at Bagnolo. Afternoon: Villa Barbarigo-Rezzonico (exterior) and Villa Poiana.

Day

3

Vicenza: walking tour including Palazzo Thiene (exterior) and visit to Palazzo Barbaran da Porto (Palladian Museum – guided tour with Curator). Afternoon: Basilica Palladiana, Loggia del Capitaniato and Palazzo Valmarana (exteriors) followed by Church of Santa Corona (Valmarana Chapel), Teatro Olimpico and Museo Civico (Palazzo Chiericati). Free evening.

Day

4

Morning: Villa Porto Colleoni (most important 15th century villa of the region) and Villa Godi (Palladio’s earliest villa). Afternoon in Padua: Basilica of San Antonio (work by Donatello and Palladio), Odeon, Loggia Cornaro and Botanical Garden (oldest in Europe, founded by Daniele Barbaro).

Day

5

Morning: Villa Trissino (home of Palladio’s first patron and where Palladio worked as a stonemason – exterior), Bassano del Grappa (site of Palladio’s famous wooden bridge). Afternoon: Villa Emo at Fanzolo (one of Palladio’s most beautiful villas).

Day

6

Palladio’s famous Villa Rotonda (visit subject to confirmation), Villa Pisani at Strà (vast 18th century villa with frescoes by Tiepolo), Villa Foscari. Transfer by boat along the Brenta Canal to Venice for four nights at Hotel Ca’ dei Conti.

Day

7

Morning: Palazzo Grimani (extraordinary 16th century interiors), Palazzo Querini-Stampalia (well-preserved historical house museum) and Santa Maria Formosa. Free afternoon and evening.

Day

8

Morning: San Giorgio Maggiore and Church of Il Redentore. Afternoon: Palladio’s cloister of Santa Maria della Carità (Accademia di Belle Arti) and optional visit to Basilica dei Frari.

Day

9

Morning walking tour: Arsenale (exterior), Scuola di San Giorgio (paintings by Carpaccio), San Francesco della Vigna (Palladio’s first church façade), San Zanipolo and Rialto Bridge. Free afternoon.

Day

10

Depart Venice 1135, arriving Gatwick 1250.

Tour Dates

21 Oct — 30 Oct 2021

Days

10 Cost

£3245

Tour Code

PALL-21

Book Now

Printable tour notes

Gallery

our photos

If you would like to upload your photos to our gallery click here

Testimonial

“The Tour Director was extremely interesting and informative”

“I particularly enjoyed the Palladian villas and the beautiful and peaceful countryside around Vicenza”

“Throughout, first class”

ACE customers on a previous Palladio & the Villas of the Veneto tour with Charles Hind

FITNESS / PRACTICALITIES

A good level of fitness is required for this tour, as it involves a significant amount of walking, particularly in Venice. Participants must feel comfortable navigating uneven ground, steps and cobbled streets.

FLIGHTS

For customers who wish to make their own travel arrangements, ACE is pleased to be able to offer a flight reduction of £175.

Cost of £3245 includes: return airfare, accommodation based on sharing a twin or double bedded room, breakfast, two lunches, seven dinners with wine, water & coffee, excursions & admissions, gratuities.

Not included: travel insurance, single room supplement (double room for single use in Venice) £525, double room for single use (throughout) supplement £750.