Associazione Città Italiane Patrimonio Mondiale UNESCO

The city of Vicenza and the Palladian villas of the Veneto
Inscription N° 712/712bis 1994-1996 C (i) (ii)

Vicenza is one of the oldest cities in Veneto although not a lot is known about its history before it was occupied by the Romans. It would appear to have been founded by the Euganei but it was the Gauls that governed it until 157 BC when after annexation by Rome, it became called Viceta or Vincentia. The city thrived under the rule of the Emperor Adrian, was later sacked by the Barbarians but subsequently returned to its former splendour under the Goths then the Longobards and then the Franks. It became an Episcopal principality in 1001, while between the 12th and 14th centuries it was at war with its neighbouring cities and passed from rule to rule. In 1404 it became part of the Republic of Veneto. Vicenza’s was at the height of its glory in the 14th century. Thanks to its wealthy aristocracy, many palaces and public buildings were built during the Renaissance period and most of these were designed either by Andrea Palladio or his pupils and those who were of his school. In 1813, after Napoleon, control of Vicenza passed to Austria. There was an uprising in 1848 and in 1866 the city became part of the new Kingdom of Italy. In 1848, the Commune’s flag was adorned with the gold medal for military valour for “the strenuous defence by the citizens against the enemy in May and June 1848”. In 1994 the city was awarded similar recognition for the activities carried out by its partisans during WW II.
On 15 December 1994, Vicenza was inscribed on the World Heritage List. The World Heritage List inscription includes twenty-three Palladian buildings in the historic centre and three villas located outside the city walls also designed by the master architect. The city of Palladio may therefore rightly boast the title of “world heritage site” because “it is a special artistic ensemble, due to the many works by Andrea Palladio himself. Placed together in a harmonious historical context, they are the characterising feature of the whole.
Palladio’s city and works have had a profound influence on the history of architecture, dictating the rules of town planning in most of Europe and the rest of the world”.
In 1996, UNESCO recognition was extended to include Palladian villas (sixteen) in the surrounding territory.
Vicenza is now one of the UNESCO sites housing the greatest number of protected monuments. There are thirty-nine in all even if the entire city’s historic centre created by Palladio’s genius is considered to be the “world heritage site”.
On 15 December 1994, the UNESCO world heritage committee, meeting in Phuket in Thailand, inscribed Vicenza on the list on the basis of two criteria:
1) Vicenza is a special artistic ensemble, due to the many works by Andrea Palladio himself. Placed together in a harmonious historical context, they are the characterising feature of the whole
2) Palladio’s city and works have had a profound influence on the history of architecture, dictating the rules of town planning in most of Europe and the rest of the world.