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Historic itineraries
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Monuments from the Roman epoch: Some remains of roads from imperial times have survived (at the side of the temple of S. Lorenzo); Teatro Berga: some steps are visible inside Palazzo Gualdi. They were part of the Roman aqueduct, which brought water from the springs to the city (outside the S.Croce Gate and toward the Lobbia). Pavement mosaics, funeral inscriptions (at the Civic Museum and in the garden of the Olympic Theatre). The bell tower of the Cathedral, the Keep of Castello gate and a vast crypto-portico recently discovered are all from the Roman epoch.
Monuments from the paleochristian age: The church of S.Felice was erected in the IV and V century. It was destroyed in 899 by the Hungarians and was rebuilt, as it is today, at the end of the X century. The Cathedral was also built on that date in the place where the present day building stands. Most of it was rebuilt after the second world war, and thus the complex regained its original appearance.
The following are from the Romanesque-gothic period: the temple of Santa Corona built between the XIII and XIV centuries; the temple of S. Lorenzo and S. Agostino which now stands in the city suburbs near the industrial zone; the churches of S. Ambrogio, Maria in Foro (the "Servants"), S. Giacomo Maggiore (the "Carmines"), and the cloister of S. Pietro, S. Silvestro.
Dating from the gothic military period: the walls which partially surround the city, including the Rocchetta and the gates of S. Lucia, S. Bortolo, and S. Croce. In the old town along the Corso and in the side-streets, we can admire the civil gothic monuments such as: the Basilica (interior of the Salone), the Hospital of S. Valentino alle Barche, casa Pigafetta in the street of that name, Palazzo Da Schio known as La Ca' D'Oro, Palazzo Zen at S. Stefano, Palazzo Porto Colleoni and Porto Breganze in contrà Porti, Palazzo Regaù in via XX Settembre, Palazzo Arnaldi.
The renaissance period from the XV century to the whole of the XVI century, is marked in particular by the works of the great architect Andrea Palladio: the Basilica, Palazzo Da Porto Barbaran, Palazzo Festa in contrà Porti, Palazzo Valmarana Braga in corso Fogazzaro, Palazzo Bonin Longare, Palazzo Thiene headquarters of the Banca Popolare, Palazzo Chiericati where the Civic Museum is housed, the Loggia del Capitaniato, Palazzo Civena Trissino and many others which we can discover by walking along the streets of the old town. The Olympic Theatre and Villa Capra Valmarana, known as the Rotunda, deserve a more detailed visit, as they are the only masterpieces of Palladian art in the world.
From the baroque period: the church of S. Maria Araceli and Palazzo Leoni Montanari. These Vicentine examples of baroque art are interesting not only for their refined architectural taste, but also for the restoration work carried out. The following also belong to this historic period: Palazzo Repeta in piazza S. Lorenzo, prestige headquarters of the Banca d'Italia and the Basilica of Monte Berico, emblem of the city's religious tradition.
The neo-classic period: Palazzo Cordellina in contrà Riale, by Ottone Calderari, Villa Valmarana ai Nani, Palazzo Trento Valmarana in contrà Cabianca, planned by Muttoni and numerous churches and oratories.
We shall conclude with two works of significance for the city's culture: the convent and church of Saints Giacomo and Filippo. The former houses Veneto's most important library, after the Marciana, also known as the Bertoliana, while the latter is renowned for its paintings by Maganza, linked to the Veneto manneristic taste. We should also mention Palazzo Brusarosco-Zaccaria, the seat of the munificent Foundation "La Vigna" in S. Croce. |
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