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Villa La Rotonda, a square villa with a temple front, columns and a central dome

Villa

Villa La Rotonda

Villa La Rotonda, on a gentle hill just outside Vicenza, is Palladio’s most famous building. Begun in the 1560s for the churchman Paolo Almerico, it is a square house with a temple front on each of its four sides and a dome at its centre. It has inspired buildings around the world, from English country houses to Thomas Jefferson’s Monticello.

Why visit

Palladio designed La Rotonda as a retreat rather than a farm, on a hilltop with views in every direction, and gave it four identical fronts so that each side looks out over the landscape. Its perfect symmetry and classical temple fronts made it one of the most copied buildings in history. It is still privately owned and lived in.

What to see

  • The four porticoes: walk around the house to see the same temple front on every side.
  • The dome and central hall: on interior opening days, the round hall at the heart of the house, decorated with frescoes.
  • The setting: the hill, the lawns and the view over the countryside.
  • Villa Valmarana ai Nani: a short walk along a lane lined with walls, with Tiepolo frescoes.

Getting there

La Rotonda is about 2 km from the centre of Vicenza. You can walk from Monte Berico or the city centre, take a city bus or drive. From Montecchio Maggiore, allow about 25 minutes by car.

Tips

  • The interior opens on fewer days than the gardens. Check the villa’s website for current times.
  • Combine it with Villa Valmarana ai Nani next door.
  • Read our guide to the Palladian villas.
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