Villa La Rotonda, Vicenza, Italy

Villa La Rotonda is a Renaissance villa just outside Vicenza, designed by Andrea Palladio. Along with other works by Palladio, the building is conserved as part of the UNESCO World Heritage Site 'City of Vicenza and the Palladian Villas of the Veneto'.

In 1565 a priest, Paolo Almerico, on his retirement from the Vatican, decided to return to his home town of Vicenza and build a country house. Building began in 1567. Neither Palladio nor the owner, Paolo Almerico, were to see the completion of the villa. Palladio died in 1580 and a second architect, Vincenzo Scamozzi, was employed by the new owners to oversee the completion. This house was to be one of Palladio's best-known legacies to the architectural world.

The design is for a completely symmetrical building having a square plan with four facades, each of which has a projecting portico. The whole is contained within an imaginary circle which touches each corner of the building and centres of the porticos. The name La Rotonda refers to the central circular hall with its dome.

Palladio had intended it to be covered by a high semi-circular dome but Scamozzi designed a lower dome with an oculus (intended to be open to the sky) inspired by the Pantheon in Rome. The dome was ultimately completed with a cupola.

Interior

The interior design of the Villa was to be as wonderful, if not more so, than the exterior. Alessandro and Giovanni Battista Maganza and Anselmo Canera were commissioned to paint frescoes in the principal salons.

Among the four principal salons on the piano nobile are the West Salon and the East Salon, which contains an allegorical life story of the first owner Paolo Almerico, his many admirable qualities portrayed in fresco.

The highlight of the interior is the central, circular hall, surrounded by a balcony and covered by the domed ceiling; it soars the full height of the main house up to the cupola, with walls decorated in trompe l'oeil. Abundant frescoes create an atmosphere that is more reminiscent of a cathedral than the principal salon of a country house.

From the porticos, wonderful views of the surrounding countryside can be seen; this is no coincidence as the Villa was designed to be in perfect harmony with the landscape.

References:

Wikipedia

User Reviews

Silvia Prujà Mayà (9 months ago)
Even if you are not an architect or interested in architecture, this is absolutely stunning. Complusory stop!

Amelia Dałek (10 months ago)
Such a beautiful place but simultaneously a big dissapointment. Paying 10€ to see only a couple of rooms on piano mobile is a bit much, innit? Upstairs is unavailable to see. What's more, there are no descriptions of what you are looking at. Some rooms are closed off and you can only look inside from the doorway. Such a shame to be in such an amazing place and not be able to see at least most of it.

Shmuel Teppler (10 months ago)
What a beautiful place! one building and a garden, so special. Note: we had some difficulty understanding were you may park your car. We end up parking in the street near the entrance and nothing wrong happened, but I think it was luck. If the place can clarify to visitors were to park it would be help full

structures of venice (14 months ago)
A true "church" for anyone who is interested to discover this important chapter of the architecture and cultural history. It is a great luck this private villa is open to public, so that everyone who wishes can visit it and to deepen the knowledge. The basic ticket cost 10 e, at disposal audio guide and reading materials in various languages. Small gift shop and I gather bathroom for visitors. Some reductions available (ICOM) stated at the ticket office by the main gate. The spaces,the interiors, architecture and gardens are in excellent condition and are very well taken for, which must mean a significant expense. Present staff and we saw there are possibilities of guided visits. If you are planning to visit this special place, park your car somewhere in Vicenza, since there is not the official parking available. There is a walking path from from Vicenza to Villa Rotonda (about 15 mins.) We will come back herr gladly again with friends or with different season and its colors. Again, thank you for keeping this place open and protected. *visited in May 2024

Barış Gök (17 months ago)
My sister and her friend visited here last weekend. On their website, ticket was written as 10€ (not tour one) and without reservation on the weekends. At the door, they claimed first it was closed for public that day. But after we said it was written open on their website, they sold the ticket for 15€… The villa was magnificent though!

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