VICENZA
Vicenza,
known in past times as Vicetia, is situated
in an area of Veneto, which includes on one side the Prealpi
and the other side the Monti Berici: a location, which with
the running waters that cross it, the Bacchiglione and the
Retrone, form a characteristic panorama. More than one hundred
high class mansions embellish this city which due to its architectural
quality, attests as a Venice on the mainland.
The settlement is originally paleoveneta, but during the Roman
era the city began to assume a definite urbanistic installation.
During the Medieval era, it was a Free Council, but after
this phase, there followed long periods of battles for ownership
with attempts of it being conquered by its neighbours, Padova
(Padua) and Verona: the city, to put an end to this phase
which blocked its development spontaneously gave in to the
Venetian Government of 1404. This strategic choice, allowed
a new phase of the cultural, economic and artistic life of
the city: a long period of building restoration, which lasted
until the 16th Century is characterised by the construction
of the high class mansions and new roads. Vicenza therefore
became one of the most interesting, architectural sites in
Italy.
Observe these mansions, tantamount in helping the architectural
evolution from the late Gothic period to the Renaissance:
at first their fronts correspond to the taste of the Venetian
Gothic period – Casa Zen, Palazzo da Schio, Palazzo
Port-Breganze, Palazzo Thiene, Casa Pigafetta – then
the style evolved and the fronts began to take on a different
aspect of austere 15th Century housing - Palazzo Angaran,
Palazzo Negri, Palazzo Thiene – finally, around the
mid 15th Century, Andrea Palladio, inaugurated a type of architecture
of noble and classical taste, but also one that was luminous
and functional; a style which influenced European architecture
until the 1800’s – Palazzo Chiericati, Palazzo
Porto, Palazzo Valmarana. The site of these mansions is best
shown along the city’s walkways, which helps facilitate
their viewing when visiting their locations.
An itinerary of Vicenza, has to, however, also take into consideration
the so called “Vicenza minore:” keeping within
the city limits – the city is in fact divided into areas
called “Contra,” from which the actual wards take
their name – casually following the linear rhythm of
the narrow streets, you discover a city rich in colour, with
quiet little squares, streets and waterways which are crossed
by use of very characteristic stone bridges; on which typical
Veneto style houses with courtyards and galleries can be seen.
|
