villa almerico capra detta la rotonda

Bio-traveler

We walked from downtown out to the villa, along a bike trail and pedestrian trail. Very enjoyable to walk through the countryside and amazing villa for fans of Palladio. Wonderful!

archgal

We lucked out and instead of closing for the season the last week of October . This year they closed after the first week of November . When you go inside only the first floor is viewable and no photos. It was worthwhile to see the inside but if you are in the area and can only see the exterior I would say that is still worth the effort. We had a private guide who was amazing at explaining the architectural theory. We saw this villa and five others over a day and a half.

tombantle

Given a hill-top site, Andrea Palladio was able to fashion the ultimate jewel of a building. Symmetrical around virtually every axis, the Villa Rotunda is designed to be seen from every angle. Essentially this most geometric of buildings is a cylinder inside a cube.While Palladio designed no other buildings for the site, Scamozzi designed the barchessa through which today's visitors approach the villa. The Villa gradually appears as you ascend. You see the NW facade with its pediment surmounted by the dome over the central cylindrical room. In each of the corners pointed toward the cardinal directions Palladio placed a camera and an anticamera all with aligned doors to form enfilades. The dome soars over the central space. The interior is as thrilling as the exterior, but alas no photographs are allowed inside. As you enter the architecture draws you toward the central dome and then once you are there you are drawn to the vistas in every direction. Similarly in each of the camera the aligned doorways and windows allow you to see in all directions.

GabrielaL_13

It is wonderfull place from architect Palladio. It is not simple to find it from the city centre. I recomende to ask in the Palladio museum in the city centre, but! no everybody in the museum are able to speak English! The best way to find direct locationa and open hours before the travek on internet.

Diverdad1

This palazzo (it's not a true "villa") is considered Palladio's finest work. It inspired Jefferson's Monticello. It's design features perfect symmetry with four equal sides with columned porticos and a central dome (inspired by the Pantheon in Rome). You must buy a ticket to see the grounds. The location and view is nice but trees on the south side obstruct in that direction. The interior is only open for tours on Wed. and Sat. at designated times, so plan ahead! 10:00 am is the best time to go. This is a 25 minute walk from town. We took a taxi there and walked back (a good option because it's uphill from town). The Valdaramma Villa (prettier grounds and garden) may be seen too as it is close by and offers daily interior access. From the entrance to Villa Rotunda, go left on the paved road (facing the "villa") and after just a few meters head up the path on your left leading up the hill. When you leave Villa Valdarama, stay on the stone path (with high walls) for perhaps a quarter mile, which leads to a spectacular view of Vicenza!

OandA-London

This is regarded as one of Palladio's finest villas, and a must see for those interested in architecture, but there is little point is paying to just visit the gardens as you can see the main façade from the road. Consequently, you have to go on either a Saturday or a Wednesday to see the interior (but check the website for up-to-date info on opening times). The interior is impressive and there is a free written guide to the rooms, but you'll probably spend little more than 15 minutes to see everything which is on view, so don't expect your visit to compare with visiting a stately home in the UK. From the station take the main road and then follow the signs to the villa along a pedestrian/cycle track. This route is fairly flat and easy to walk along. However, coming back you can take another path which passes Villa Valmarana ai Nan, but this is more uphill and the first section is very rough and certainly unsuitable for those with any walking disability. (Incidently, there are toilets on site but they're not sign posted so explore the area to the rear of the shop to find them.)

SimonFrancis_777

We walked from the centre of Vicenza to the "Rotonda", about 30 mins. This is simply one of the most astonishingly beautiful places on earth. The house itself is located in a few acres of its own land but that land sits in the hills above Vicenza, with stunning views of the Venieto countryside. The house is an architectural masterpiece which has influenced global design for centuries, but beyond that, it's just a fantastic, quiet island of iconic Italian style. Theres a small shop selling prints and posters, but dont expect too much. The emphasis is on just looking at whats around you. Take time to sit in the gardens and it all makes perfect sense. One small tip: if you're able, do walk there and back. We walked through the tiny country lanes back into Vicenza and the surrounding country is amazing.

CD

Palladio is considered by many to be the inspiration of the British Georgian house style, his designs for the wealthy around Vicenza remain a reminder of “The Grand Tour” and its influence on the English gentlemen passing through on their way to Venice. This villa is the most symmetrical buildings you can ever hope to find and the only one to this plan ever completed. Its a must see for any interested in this period of architecture. You can only see the main floor and it is expensive for the time you are there, but this is a classic piece of architecture in more ways than one. There is limited parking near the house entrance, I would suggest parking in the lay-by on the main road when you first see the house and walking from there, you'll want to stop for the photo-opportunity anyway. I did not see any refreshments or toilets at the villa but between the lay-by and the turning for the villa there is an excellent looking café / cake shop.

loulou089

We walked up to The Rotunda. It is really beautiful and well worth a visit. Nice gardens to walk around and the architecture is memorable.

SofiaJoe

Sited perfectly on a hill slightly outside Vicenza, this elegant home is a stunning beauty of architectural harmony. We didn't get to see the inside, but just the view from the outside on a nearby road is enough to take your breath away. The influence La Rotonda had on Monticello is clearly evident.

MercyFernandez

One of Palladio's most famous Villas. it's sited on a low hill. All 4 sides of the villa are exactly the same, the only difference is the insition on each of the plaques on each side. It has several murals inside that you can see only on specific days, otherwise you are allowed to see only the outside of the villa. The entrance fee for the outside only is 5 euro, children enter for free

michaelpF7018HN

Bad access to this old amasing building on the small hill beside centre of Vicenza. The best way there is from the other Villa of architect Palladio on the same ridge through some old way between two walls. Villa Rotonda is perfect example of beginning new and free style living architecture! Excellent view to landscape, but sade, part of gardens is transformed to fields and wild forest. Only few days in the season is open this place. It is nice to be longer there, because old Italian atmosphere...

Rockeee

This was a spectacular building from the exterior. Inside, there weren't many rooms to see and you couldn't go upstairs so it felt quite expensive for what we actually got. (10 Euros). The toilets are not signed at all and are on your right hand side, down some very steep steps just before the gift shop. No refreshments on sale and very limited opening times - check website before your trip.

sjhHove

This beautiful neoclassical Palladian villa is about 20 minutes outside Vicenza. It's austere in form but perfect, and obviously one of the most influential buildings on the Grand Tour. The views aren't spectacular, but the building is hugely impressive inside and out.We parked the car down the hill from Monte Berico and walked along a very narrow residential street, first to the Villa Valmara, which is worth a visit, for it's frescos by Tiepolo, which took about 10 minutes and then a further 10 minutes down a rough track to La Rotunda. Alternatively there is a free car park and a small cafe at Valmarana (check the opening times) so this is a good solution to the the parking problems at La Rotunda.

Siouxsie69

The monument is very beautiful but it is to expensive (10 euro for the ticket), and there is no parking; it is outside the city and the only possibility to get there is by car, but once you're there, there is no parking place, as it is forbidden to park everywhere around the premises. The result is that if you want to visit the villa you have to park there, and when you're finished you find a fine on your car. We asked to the ticket office and they said it happens everyday. So after having paid 10 euro you must also pay some other money. Notwithstanding this, the villa is very beautiful, it is a real masterpiece and it is worth the visit. But the property or Vicenza municipality should change something or arrange for a shuttle bus to go there, maybe included in the price of the ticket.