Ponte San Michele lit over the Retrone at night, seen from a window box of flowers

VICENZA, ITALY · BEYOND PALLADIO

The stories worth knowing before you visit Vicenza.

EXPLORE THE STORIES →

5^YEARS

Vicenza has held Veneto’s Slow Food record for five consecutive editions.

1.82^METRES

Italy’s largest optical telescope is in Vicenza

23^{IN ONE CITY}

1432

A Lofoten story began with a shipwreck and ended with Vicenza’s most famous dish.

1585

Teatro Olimpico welcomed and painted one of Japan’s great travel stories, still alive today.

4,444^STEPS

Italy’s longest staircase is in Vicenza, 4,444 stone steps through the mountains.

5^YEARS

Vicenza has held Veneto’s Slow Food record for five consecutive editions.

1.82^METRES

Italy’s largest optical telescope is in Vicenza

23^{IN ONE CITY}

1432

A Lofoten story began with a shipwreck and ended with Vicenza’s most famous dish.

1585

Teatro Olimpico welcomed and painted one of Japan’s great travel stories, still alive today.

4,444^STEPS

Italy’s longest staircase is in Vicenza, 4,444 stone steps through the mountains.

Looking for what to see and do in Vicenza? Start with the origins of Romeo and Juliet and their two castles among the vineyards, Antonio Pigafetta and the first voyage around the world, Palladian villas still inspiring major screen productions, and the Lofoten story behind Vicenza’s most famous dish. Plus plenty more to see and do, from green escapes and rare local food to historic libraries and antiques.

Palladio, Bridgerton on Netflix and the villas of VicenzaTHE ORIGINAL COUNTRY HOUSE DREAM
Vicenza’s great travel stories, from Magellan to JapanTHE FIRST VOYAGE AROUND THE WORLD, LOFOTEN FOOD HISTORY AND JAPAN IN VICENZA
The origin of Romeo and Juliet, decades before ShakespeareDISCOVER THE TWO CASTLES ABOVE THE VINEYARDS IN VICENZA
Vicenza records in food, nature and the night skySLOW FOOD, ITALY’S LARGEST OPTICAL TELESCOPE, GREEN ESCAPES
Italian design, rare books and antiques in VicenzaGLOBAL DESIGN, RARE BOOKS AND A PRINTING DYNASTY

VICENZA ALONE HAS 24 PALLADIAN VILLAS

The villas behind one of Netflix’s biggest series

Palladio villas shaped the country house style seen around the world, including the Palladian look behind one of Netflix’s biggest series. Visit the villas, gardens and estates where that architectural story began.

GLOBAL TRAVEL STORIES FROM VICENZA

The first travel creator? He was from Vicenza

Antonio Pigafetta sailed on the first voyage around the world and wrote the account that lets us know what happened.

DISCOVER THE FIRST VOYAGE AROUND THE WORLD →

What do the Lofoten Islands, a food brotherhood and Vicenza have in common?

Vicenza’s most famous fish dish has a Norwegian origin, a Lofoten connection and more than five centuries of food history.

DISCOVER VICENZA’S LOFOTEN FOOD STORY →

Hidden Vicenza: Japan’s story inside Teatro Olimpico

Among the best places to visit in Vicenza, Teatro Olimpico also holds one of Japan’s great travel stories.

VISIT THE JAPAN STORY INSIDE TEATRO OLIMPICO →

ROMEO AND JULIET IN VICENZA

The origin of Romeo and Juliet, decades before Shakespeare

The Romeo and Juliet story leads to two castles above the vineyards of Vicenza.

VICENZA BY THE NUMBERS

RECORDS WORTH DISCOVERING IN VICENZA

5YEARS

DISCOVER VICENZA’S SLOW FOOD RECORD
Vicenza holds Veneto’s Slow Food record for the fifth consecutive edition.

1.82M

SEE ITALY’S LARGEST OPTICAL TELESCOPE
Stargazing, observatories and some of Italy’s most interesting night skies.

THEGUARDIAN

WHY THE GUARDIAN RECOMMENDS VICENZA
The British newspaper named Vicenza an antidote to overtourism.

ITALIAN DESIGN, RARE BOOKS AND ANTIQUES IN VICENZA

Some of Italy’s best known design is made in Vicenza

Mosaic, glass, leather and some of Italy’s best known design names are made in Vicenza.

OPEN THE ROUTE →

Unique bookshops, historic libraries and antique markets in Vicenza

Rare books, decorated paper, historic printing, antiques and specialist libraries across Vicenza.