Palazzo Chiericati is one of Andrea Palladio’s masterpieces, now home to the Civic Museum of Vicenza. It houses a rich art gallery with over 35,000 works from the 13th to the 20th century, including masterpieces by Paolo Veneziano, Cima da Conegliano, Veronese, and Tiepolo. The architecture is a unique fusion of an urban palace and a suburban villa, featuring a colonnaded portico on the ground floor and lateral loggias on the piano nobile.
– Palladian architecture: façade on a podium with portico and loggias, UNESCO-listed since 1994.
– Art collections: paintings, sculptures, and graphic works from the Middle Ages to the 20th century.
– Renaissance frescoes: rooms decorated by Brusasorzi, Zelotti, and others, with stuccoes and grotesques.
– Basement level: medieval servants’ quarters, the Roggia del Collo canal, and cellars open to the public.
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09/06/2025 - 25/10/2026
Palazzo Chiericati in Vicenza, designed by Andrea Palladio, houses the Civic Museum with works from the Middle Ages to the 20th century. Admire Renaissance frescoes and the Venetian art collection in one of the city’s UNESCO-listed palaces.
- Corso Andrea Palladio, Vicenza (VI)
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Palazzo Chiericati: A Masterpiece That Takes Your Breath Away
Approaching Palazzo Chiericati, it feels like you’re seeing a country villa planted right in the city center. Palladio designed it in 1550 for the nobleman Girolamo Chiericati, and its facade with loggias and columns is a hymn to light. Today it houses the Civic Museum, with an art gallery spanning centuries. The atmosphere? Elegant and surprising.
Palazzo Chiericati: A Masterpiece That Takes Your Breath Away
Approaching Palazzo Chiericati, it feels like you’re seeing a country villa planted right in the city center. Palladio designed it in 1550 for the nobleman Girolamo Chiericati, and its facade with loggias and columns is a hymn to light. Today it houses the Civic Museum, with an art gallery spanning centuries. The atmosphere? Elegant and surprising.
From noble residence to museum: a centuries-long story
The construction began in 1551, but the palace was only completed at the end of the 17th century. After a period of neglect, the Municipality of Vicenza purchased it in 1839 and restored it. The Civic Museum opened on August 18, 1855. Today it houses over 35,000 works. Here are the key moments:
- 1550: Palladio designs the palace for Girolamo Chiericati.
- 1551-1557: First works, then interrupted.
- 17th century: Completed by Carlo and Giacomo Borella.
- 1839: Purchased by the Municipality.
- 1855: Inauguration of the Civic Museum.
- 1994: Declared UNESCO World Heritage.
From noble residence to museum: a centuries-long story
The construction began in 1551, but the palace was only completed at the end of the 17th century. After a period of neglect, the Municipality of Vicenza purchased it in 1839 and restored it. The Civic Museum opened on August 18, 1855. Today it houses over 35,000 works. Here are the key moments:
- 1550: Palladio designs the palace for Girolamo Chiericati.
- 1551-1557: First works, then interrupted.
- 17th century: Completed by Carlo and Giacomo Borella.
- 1839: Purchased by the Municipality.
- 1855: Inauguration of the Civic Museum.
- 1994: Declared UNESCO World Heritage.
Architecture and Frescoes: A Journey Through Loggias and Myths
The facade is unique: a colonnaded portico on the ground floor and loggias on the sides of the piano nobile, all set on a 50 cm podium. Inside, the frescoes are not to be missed. On the ground floor, the Hall of the Firmament with the chariots of the Sun and Moon by Domenico Brusasorzi, and the Hall of Hercules. On the piano nobile, the Hall of Civil Virtues. The basement, reopened in 2012, preserves the ancient kitchens and cellars.
Architecture and Frescoes: A Journey Through Loggias and Myths
The facade is unique: a colonnaded portico on the ground floor and loggias on the sides of the piano nobile, all set on a 50 cm podium. Inside, the frescoes are not to be missed. On the ground floor, the Hall of the Firmament with the chariots of the Sun and Moon by Domenico Brusasorzi, and the Hall of Hercules. On the piano nobile, the Hall of Civil Virtues. The basement, reopened in 2012, preserves the ancient kitchens and cellars.
Art Gallery: From Paolo Veneziano to Tiepolo
The museum houses a rich collection of Venetian art. Among the masterpieces: the polyptych by Paolo Veneziano (1333) with the Dormitio Virginis, the Madonna Enthroned by Cima da Conegliano (1489), and works by Veronese, Tintoretto, and Tiepolo. Modern artists such as Pissarro and Picasso, donated by Marquis Giuseppe Roi, are also present. Over 35,000 works including paintings, sculptures, and graphic art.
Art Gallery: From Paolo Veneziano to Tiepolo
The museum houses a rich collection of Venetian art. Among the masterpieces: the polyptych by Paolo Veneziano (1333) with the Dormitio Virginis, the Madonna Enthroned by Cima da Conegliano (1489), and works by Veronese, Tintoretto, and Tiepolo. Modern artists such as Pissarro and Picasso, donated by Marquis Giuseppe Roi, are also present. Over 35,000 works including paintings, sculptures, and graphic art.
Three Good Reasons to Add It to Your Itinerary
First: admire Palladian architecture in a palace that feels like a villa. Second: discover an art gallery that tells the story of Venetian art from the Middle Ages to the 20th century, with rare works. Third: the intimate atmosphere of frescoed rooms, away from the crowds. And the combined ticket for civic museums also lets you visit the Olympic Theatre and other venues.
Three Good Reasons to Add It to Your Itinerary
First: admire Palladian architecture in a palace that feels like a villa. Second: discover an art gallery that tells the story of Venetian art from the Middle Ages to the 20th century, with rare works. Third: the intimate atmosphere of frescoed rooms, away from the crowds. And the combined ticket for civic museums also lets you visit the Olympic Theatre and other venues.
The Perfect Time for a Visit
If possible, choose a spring morning. The light streams in through the loggias and illuminates the frescoes, creating a magical atmosphere. On weekdays there are fewer people and you can enjoy the rooms at your leisure. Avoid weekends with special events if you don’t like crowds. In any case, the palace is open all year round (closed on Mondays).
The Perfect Time for a Visit
If possible, choose a spring morning. The light streams in through the loggias and illuminates the frescoes, creating a magical atmosphere. On weekdays there are fewer people and you can enjoy the rooms at your leisure. Avoid weekends with special events if you don’t like crowds. In any case, the palace is open all year round (closed on Mondays).
What to See Nearby
A two-minute walk away is the Teatro Olimpico, Palladio’s final work, with its perspective stage set. Also unmissable is the Basilica Palladiana with its loggia and tower. If you love art, combine the visit with the Diocesan Museum or the Galleries of Palazzo Leoni Montanari. All reachable on foot.
What to See Nearby
A two-minute walk away is the Teatro Olimpico, Palladio’s final work, with its perspective stage set. Also unmissable is the Basilica Palladiana with its loggia and tower. If you love art, combine the visit with the Diocesan Museum or the Galleries of Palazzo Leoni Montanari. All reachable on foot.
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💡 Did You Know…?
A curious anecdote: during construction, the patron Girolamo Chiericati obtained permission from the Maggior Consiglio to create a public portico on the ground floor, sacrificing some privacy in exchange for a more open architecture. Today, visiting the basement, you can admire the remains of the ancient 14th-century ‘Chiericati houses’ and the Roggia del Collo, a branch of the Bacchiglione river channeled under the building, evidence of the square’s original port function.