Piazza dei Signori

The loggia was designed by Andrea Palladio in 1571 to take the place of a late medieval building which was the former residence of the "Capitanio", the highest Venetian authority in Vicenza.
The two colours of the present structure are created by the red of the bricks and the white of the stone and stuccoes: unlike his other buildings, Palladio did not intend it to be plastered.
The facade has three bays defined by four, enormous semi-columns that enclose the lower arches and the windows of the piano nobile.
The decorations on the main façade symbolise rivers represented by figures pouring water. An inscription on the entablature reads: "JO. BAPTISTAE BERNARDO PRAEFECTO", in memory of the "Capitanio" Bernardo, who instigated construction.
The architectonic modules on the side of the building facing Contrà del Monte differ from the main façade with the enormous semicolumns being substituted by four others of smaller dimensions. In the lateral bays stand two allegorical statues in remembrance of the great victory of Lepanto in 1571. A double inscription in Latin on the base reads "PALMAM GENUERE CARINAE" and "BELLI SECURA QUIESCO".The meaning is in the interpretation of the two figures: the first represents the God of Naval Victory, while the second is the resulting Peace. There are four statues on the upper floor: the first, towards the square, is Virtue in the classical sense; the second, which is smaller, is Faith; the third, similar to the previous, Mercy; and the fourth, the same size as the first, is Honour.
The interpretation of these symbols is quite clear: Virtue and Honour following Faith and Mercy obtain Victory and Peace. Venice had beaten the Turks by uniting these values.
The interior of the loggia is a harmonious space faturing niches and columns.
The upper hall, now used as the council chamber, is adorned with 16th century frescoes from one of the da Porto villas.