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City walks · Vicenza
192 Stone stairs to a Michelin view over Vicenza
See Vicenza from above, take the historic stairway up the hill
For a walk with a view in Vicenza, start beneath a Renaissance arch and climb 192 stone stairs into the hillside. Continue uphill to the panoramic terrace, where the city spreads below and the mountains stretch across the horizon. It is an easy addition to an itinerary in northern Italy for anyone who likes to explore a city on foot.
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Claudio Gioseffi · CC BY-SA 3.0 · Wikimedia Commons
Know before you go
Start at the arch in Piazzale Fraccon. The 192 stairs form part of the uphill route; continue towards the sanctuary to reach the panoramic terrace. You can descend by the covered porticoes for a different route back.
About
At the edge of central Vicenza, a Renaissance triumphal arch frames 192 stone stairs climbing into Monte Berico. At the top, the city falls away beneath you, with the Venetian plain and the Prealps on the horizon. The Michelin Guide singles out the panorama from Monte Berico, while the Regione Veneto describes the terrace view stretching across Vicenza to the entire chain of the Venetian Prealps.
FOR RUNNERS, WALKERS AND GREEN DAYS
Where can you walk for a panoramic view of Vicenza?
Take the Scalette di Monte Berico, the historic stairway beginning beneath the Arco delle Scalette in Piazzale Fraccon, on the southern edge of Vicenza’s historic centre.
The route includes 192 stone stairs and continues towards the Sanctuary of Monte Berico. For a city break in northern Italy, it offers a rewarding combination of walking, architecture and a panorama over Vicenza. The stairway is part of the approach, so allow time to continue uphill after the numbered climb.
Begin beneath a Renaissance arch
The entrance is unusually grand for a hillside walk. Built in 1595, the Arco delle Scalette is traditionally attributed to Andrea Palladio, although its authorship remains debated. The arch belongs to Vicenza’s UNESCO Palladian heritage and works almost like a compressed architectural lesson before the climb. A Roman triumphal form, Corinthian half columns, Venetian civic symbolism and a Palladio attribution all meet in a monument completed fifteen years after Palladio’s death. The result has been studied internationally, including in the architectural collections of RIBA and the University of Notre Dame. For centuries, this was the approach to the sanctuary before the covered porticoes were built in the eighteenth century. Pass beneath the arch and follow the stairs uphill, leaving the traffic of Piazzale Fraccon behind.
Continue to the panoramic terrace
Make Piazzale della Vittoria, opposite the sanctuary, your destination. Its broad terrace overlooks Vicenza, with the plain and mountains beyond. The stone balustrade identifies prominent features in the panorama, including mountain peaks associated with the First World War. Bring a camera and allow time to look across the city before heading back. For travellers who collect scenic urban walks across Europe, this is a worthwhile addition to Vicenza’s architectural itinerary.
Return by the covered porticoes
For a different descent, follow the covered porticoes towards Viale X Giugno and the city. The sanctuary lists the Scalette and the portico route as pedestrian approaches, so you can combine them in one outing. Wear comfortable shoes with good grip, take water and choose daylight for your first visit. The staircase involves a sustained climb and is unsuitable for wheelchairs or pushchairs.