Basilica Palladiana
Andrea Palladio, architect
Begun in 1549
Completed in 1617 after Palladio's death
Located in the central Piazza dei Signori in Vicenza, north-eastern Italy
Andrea Palladio, architect
Begun in 1549
Completed in 1617 after Palladio's death
Located in the central Piazza dei Signori in Vicenza, north-eastern Italy
Originally, the Basilica was a 15th century Gothic building that served as the town hall for Vicenza and also contained shops. When the old building collapsed, Andrea Palladio won the commission to design a reconstruction.
Palladio created a stunning transformation, covering the old Gothic facade with marble columns and porticos modeled after the Classical architecture of ancient Rome. The enormous project consumed much of Palladio's life, and the Basilica was not finished until thirty years after Palladio's death.
Centuries later, the rows of open arches on Palladio's Basilica inspired what came to be known as the Palladian window.