Tina
100+ Posts
The cities of Northern Italy, apart from the famous destinations of Venice, Verona and Milan, have a lot to offer the discerning wanderer looking for lesser known destinations which combine value-for-money accommodation and restaurants with culture, art, architecture and a charming and pedestrianised historical centre, places where the Sunday afternoon crowds are the locals out for a stroll and an ice-cream and the tourists are still a minority.
One such destination is Vicenza, on the main train line between Milan and Venice. We spent a delightful few days there this May.
We arrived on Sunday at the end of the May bank holiday weekend and left early on Wednesday morning. We stayed in an apartment on Viale Trento which was about a five-minute walk from the medieval walls enclosing the historical centre, about 20 minutes from the Basilica Palladiana. The historical centre of Vicenza is picturesque, full of interesting palazzi, not only in Palladian style but also with typical Venetian architecture. It’s not a city ruined by graffiti or gritty or grotty corners.
Vicenza means Palladio and there’s a lot to see by the famous architect but not just that. I liked the two parks, well cared for, the rivers running through and around the centre with bridges and houses on either side with flowers almost tumbling into them. There’s a good choice of restaurants which aren’t particularly expensive but have good reviews and plenty of places for a cicchetto and an aperitivo. Bars and cafès are plentiful and prices are reasonable even with table service sitting right next to the Basilica Palladiana in the centre.
If you are staying a few days the Vicenza card is good value from the second or third place you visit.
On Sunday we explored the centre, visited the San Lorenzo church and cloister (free), Gallerie d’Italia in Palazzo Leoni Montanari (free the first Sunday in the month), Gallerie di Palazzo Thiene (included in Vicenza card).
On Monday (be careful, most of the most important monuments are closed) we saw the Loggia Valmarana in Giardini Scalvi, the Cathedral, the Santuario di Santa Maria di Monte Berico, and Parco Querini (all free)
On Tuesday we visited Museo Civio di Palazzo Chiericati in the morning and the Teatro Olimpico, Chiesa di Santa Corona and Basilica Palladiana in the afternoon (all included in Vicenza card).
On Sunday afternoon the centre was quite busy but it was easy to walk around and find a table for a coffee. On Monday and Tuesday it was very quiet, just the occasional group and literally a handful of tourists. The centre is mostly pedestrianized which makes for relaxing strolling and cyclists were respectful.
Vicenza has definitely joined our list of favourite Italian cities for its clean historical centre, full of beauty, architecture and the feeling that the centre is still inhabited and cared for by the locals. A real antidote for all those who are tired of the overtourism of more famous cities. Shhh!
One such destination is Vicenza, on the main train line between Milan and Venice. We spent a delightful few days there this May.
We arrived on Sunday at the end of the May bank holiday weekend and left early on Wednesday morning. We stayed in an apartment on Viale Trento which was about a five-minute walk from the medieval walls enclosing the historical centre, about 20 minutes from the Basilica Palladiana. The historical centre of Vicenza is picturesque, full of interesting palazzi, not only in Palladian style but also with typical Venetian architecture. It’s not a city ruined by graffiti or gritty or grotty corners.
Vicenza means Palladio and there’s a lot to see by the famous architect but not just that. I liked the two parks, well cared for, the rivers running through and around the centre with bridges and houses on either side with flowers almost tumbling into them. There’s a good choice of restaurants which aren’t particularly expensive but have good reviews and plenty of places for a cicchetto and an aperitivo. Bars and cafès are plentiful and prices are reasonable even with table service sitting right next to the Basilica Palladiana in the centre.
If you are staying a few days the Vicenza card is good value from the second or third place you visit.
On Sunday we explored the centre, visited the San Lorenzo church and cloister (free), Gallerie d’Italia in Palazzo Leoni Montanari (free the first Sunday in the month), Gallerie di Palazzo Thiene (included in Vicenza card).
On Monday (be careful, most of the most important monuments are closed) we saw the Loggia Valmarana in Giardini Scalvi, the Cathedral, the Santuario di Santa Maria di Monte Berico, and Parco Querini (all free)
On Tuesday we visited Museo Civio di Palazzo Chiericati in the morning and the Teatro Olimpico, Chiesa di Santa Corona and Basilica Palladiana in the afternoon (all included in Vicenza card).
On Sunday afternoon the centre was quite busy but it was easy to walk around and find a table for a coffee. On Monday and Tuesday it was very quiet, just the occasional group and literally a handful of tourists. The centre is mostly pedestrianized which makes for relaxing strolling and cyclists were respectful.
Vicenza has definitely joined our list of favourite Italian cities for its clean historical centre, full of beauty, architecture and the feeling that the centre is still inhabited and cared for by the locals. A real antidote for all those who are tired of the overtourism of more famous cities. Shhh!
