Overview
Right in the heart of the Veneto region there lies a priceless treasure that has been recognised by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site: the Palladian Villas. There are 24 villas in total, and each one is home to lavish and elegant statues and furnishings of unrivalled beauty.
The majority of the Palladian Villas can be found in the province of Vicenza, built in the mid-16th century by the architect Andrea Palladio for the wealthiest families in the area including aristocrats and the upper middle class of the Venetian Republic. Unlike the Roman villas and the Tuscan Medici villas, the Palladian Villas were not created merely for the owners’ amusement but, first and foremost, to be productive complexes.
The key architectural features that define Palladian Villas are a central body, sculptures in white Vicenza stone and decorative paintings that were created by the greatest artists of the time. For centuries, La Rotonda, Villa Godi, Villa Pisani, Villa Barbaro and many others became a source of inspiration for architects from across Europe and beyond.
