Inhabited since the ancient times by the Veneti and the Euganei, later Vicenza was conquered by Rome, becoming a Roman municipium called Vicetia.
Vicenza is also known all around the world for its adopted son, the Paduan architect Andrea di Pietro della Gondola, named il Palladio, who invented a completely personal style that stupefies whereby ancient, classic architectural elements are recombined and transferred into a private context. For this reason Vicenza was declared by UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1994.
The historic centre of the city is composed by a complex of three squares (dei Signori, delle Biade e delle Erbe) and the small square of Palladio.
His most celebrated construction dominated the central Piazza dei Signori, being the most symbolic building of the city: the Palladian Basilica, a medieval construction that was restructured by the architect in 1500, giving it double order with a portico and loggia. He also gave his signature to other buildings such as the Loggia del Capitanio, Palazzo Barbaran da Porto, Palazzo Chiericati, home of the Civic Museum, Palazzo Valmarana, the Loggetta Palladiana, and the Olympic Theatre, an example of fixed scenery, conceived by Palladio and realized by Vincenzo Scamozzi.
Not too far from the city there is Villa Almerico Capra, also known as La Rotonda, the most famous of all Venetian Villas and considered Palladio's masterpiece for excellence.