Vicenza's historic center, surrounded by medieval walls, which were built during the reign of the family Della Scala, is small in size. Tourists usually get acquainted with him during walks, during which you can actually see old houses, palaces, monuments, picturesque courtyards, narrow streets with their plazas, squares and picturesque shops.

One of the routes through the historic center of Vicenza starts from Piazza Matteotti, formerly known as the Piazza del Isola. Once bacchiglione river flowed right in front of the Palazzo Chiericati - in the past this place was located the city port, where ships arrive laden tree. Behind the building is a garden of the Palazzo, which makes it a transitional form between the actual palaces and villas. Palazzo Chiericati is considered one of the masterpieces of the great architect Andrea Palladio. From 1855, the year it hosts the City Museum and Art Gallery.

A little further on the portal of the 17th century, attributed to Reveze leads to the patio and the garden of the Olympic theater, whose construction began Palladio and completed by Vincenzo Scamozzi. Today the theater leaves the impression of a mystical place, and its wooden decoration dazzling.

Going further along Corso Palladio uditse, once known as the most elegant in Europe, a small building, which according to legend, was the home of Palladio, you can see the Gothic Church of Santa Corona. Inside the store works by Bellini and Veronese created Fogolino and stunning views of Vicenza. The main altar of inlaid marble and pearls, wooden choir and chapel Cappella Valmarana - also deserve attention. To the right of the church is covered gallery Santa Corona, which now houses the Museum of Natural History, and at the corner of Contra Apolloni is Palazzo Leoni-Montanari - Vicenza masterpiece of Baroque art. Since 1909 it belongs to the Catholic Bank is an exhibition hall for the 14 paintings by Pietro Longhi. There, in the Corso Palladio, is the church of San Gaetano Thiene and immediately behind it - Palazzo Schio, known as Ca 'd'Oro - an excellent example of Gothic architecture.

The route then leads to the Piazza dei Signori, which was the center of the city from the time of the Commune of Vicenza. On the south side of the square stands the wonderful snow-white building - the Basilica Palladiana, the symbol of Vicenza. Nearby stands the 82-meter tower Torre Bissara, which in the 14th century the first mechanical clock. On the other side of the square you can see the Loggia del Capitano - unfinished creation of Palladio, which today houses the City Council. For Loggia seen the Palazzo del Monte di Pieta of the 16th century with an elegant church of San Vincenzo. Complementing the elegant charm of the area of ​​the two columns - Christ the Redeemer and St. Mark's.

For columns in Piazza Byade, it is the church of Santa Maria dei Servi, and right on the Piazza delle Erbe, stands Torre Tormenta, once the former prison. At the end of the square to the narrow street is a Gothic building with marble lace - house Antonio Pigafetta, Magellan's circumnavigation of the participant.

Also, in the historic center of Vicenza is to explore the Palazzo Trissino-Baston, now occupied by the city municipality, Palazzo Dal Verme-Dzileri, Palazzo Bonin-Longare, port tower of Castello - the oldest surviving from the Middle Ages, and Palazzo Porto Breganze. For Porto Castello stretches Park Garden Salvi. And if you go to the park on the Corso San Felice e Fortunato San, can come to the basilica of the same name, dating back to the early Christian period.