Walking tour
Season: Year-roundVicenza walking tour: Palladio’s city
- The Basilica Palladiana, Corso Palladio and the city’s palaces
- The story of Andrea Palladio and his clients
The essentials
| Location | Province of Vicenza, Veneto, north-east Italy |
|---|---|
| Population | About 23,000 |
| Nearest cities | Vicenza 13 km, Verona 45 km, Venice 80 km |
| Time zone | Central European Time (UTC+1), summer time UTC+2 |
| Currency | Euro (EUR) |
| Airports | Verona (VRN), Venice (VCE) and Treviso (TSF) |
| Plugs | Types C, F and L, 230 volts |
| Emergency number | 112 |
When to visit
The Veneto has hot summers and cold, damp winters. Spring and autumn are the best seasons for sightseeing, walking and wine.
| Months | What to expect |
|---|---|
| March to May | Mild and green, with blossom in the hills and white asparagus on the menus. Easter and May weekends are busy in Venice and Verona. |
| June to August | Hot and often humid, with long evenings, outdoor concerts and the opera season in the Arena of Verona. |
| September and October | Warm days, the grape harvest and wine festivals. The best time for the countryside. |
| November to February | Cold, with fog on the plain and snow in the mountains. Quiet, except for Christmas markets and the Venice Carnival in February. |
Weather and what to wear
Summer days often reach 30 °C or more. Winter days are around 2 to 8 °C, and thick fog can settle on the plain for days, while the castle hill sometimes rises above it in the sun.
- Comfortable shoes for cobbles and the walk up to the castles
- Light clothes and a hat in summer
- Shoulders and knees covered for churches
- A warm coat and layers in winter
- A light jacket for summer evenings at the opera
Festivals and events
- Venice Carnival: in the weeks before Lent, usually in February.
- The Arena di Verona opera festival: from June to early September.
- Classical music in Vicenza: concerts and plays at the Teatro Olimpico, especially in late spring and summer.
- Summer events at the castles: concerts, theatre and festivals in Montecchio Maggiore; check the town’s programme.
- The living chess game in Marostica: in September of even-numbered years.
- Grape harvest and wine festivals: in September and October across the wine country.
- Christmas markets: in Vicenza, Verona and other towns in December.
Money and costs
The Vicenza area is good value compared with Venice and Lake Garda. Cards are widely accepted; carry some cash for cafés, markets and bus tickets. Restaurants often add a cover charge, and many towns charge a small tourist tax at hotels.
Safety and health
- Pickpockets: take care with bags on trains and in crowded places such as Venice and Verona.
- Heat: drink plenty of water in summer and plan indoor visits for the afternoon.
- Fog: drive carefully in winter fog on the plain and the motorway.
- ZTL zones: do not drive into limited traffic zones in historic centres.
Etiquette
- Greet people with “buongiorno” or “buonasera” when you enter a shop or bar.
- Dress modestly in churches, and keep quiet during services.
- Coffee is drunk standing at the bar, and cappuccino is usually a morning drink.
- Many people speak some English, but a few words of Italian are appreciated.
