Page 415 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - Europe

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Verona’s patron saint, San Zeno
Maggiore is the most ornate
Romanesque church in northern
Italy, famous for its unusual
medieval bronze door panels.
The Duomo also dates from
the 12th century and displays
Titian’s Assumption. Other notable
medieval churches in Verona are
San Fermo Maggiore, with
many interior frescoes including
the Annunciation by Pisanello
(1377–1455), and Sant’Anastasia,
which houses 15th-century
frescoes and holy water stoups
supported by figures of beggars
known locally as i gobbi.
The Basilica di Sant’Antonio in Padua, with its Byzantine domes
T Arena
Piazza Brà. Tel 045-800 32 04. statues. Beside it stands the o Padua
Open daily (Mon: pm only). 12th-century Torre di Piazza. * 220,000. £ @ n Vicolo
Closed Jan 1, Dec 25–26. & The Loggia del Capitaniato, Pedrocchi (049-201 00 80).
+ Castelvecchio to the northwest, was built ( Mon–Sat at Piazza delle Erbe.
Corso Castelvecchio 2. Tel 045-806 26 by Palladio in 1571. Its upper ∑ turismopadova.it
11. Open daily. & = 8 (audio). rooms contain the city’s
council chamber. Padua is an old university town
i Vicenza Europe’s oldest surviving with an illustrious academic
indoor theater, the Teatro history. The city (Padova in
* 116,000. £ @ n Piazza Olimpico was begun by Italian) has two major
Matteotti 12 (0444-99 47 70). ( Tue & Palladio in 1579 and attractions – the Basilica di
Thu. _ Concert season (May–Jun). completed by his pupil, Sant’Antonio, one of the
∑ vicenzae.org Vincenzo Scamozzi. It most popular sites of
was Scamozzi who pilgrimage in Italy, and
Vicenza is celebrated for its created the permanent the Cappella degli
splendid, varied architecture. stage, built of wood Scrovegni, a beautifully
Known as the city of Andrea and plaster and painted decorated chapel. The
Palladio (1508–80), stonemason to look like marble. It exotic Basilica was built
turned architect, it offers a represents Thebes, a from 1232 to house
unique opportunity to study the Greek city, and uses the remains of the great
evolution of his distinctive style. perspective to create Franciscan preacher,
Piazza dei Signori at the an illusion of depth. St. Anthony of Padua.
heart of Vicenza is dominated Palladio was also The chapel (1303)
by the Palazzo della Ragione, responsible for the features a series of
known also as the Basilica. design of Palazzo frescoes depicting the
Palladio’s first public Chiericati which houses Memorial to Andrea life of Christ, painted
commission, this building has the Museo Civico, but Palladio in Vicenza by Giotto. The Museo
a roof like an upturned boat, the epitome of his work Civico Eremitani on
and a balustrade bristling with can be seen in the Villa the same site has a rich
Rotonda, in the country side coin collection and an art gallery.
to the south of Vicenza. Other attractions include
the Duomo and Baptistry,
P Piazza dei Signori which contains one of Italy’s
Basilica: Tel 0444-22 28 11. Open daily most complete medieval fresco
during exhibitions. & cycles (painted by Giusto de’
Menabuoi in 1378), and the
P Teatro Olimpico Palazzo della Ragione, built in
Piazza Matteotti. Tel 0444-22 28 00. 1218 to serve as Padua’s law
Open Tue–Sun. Closed Jan 1, Dec 25.
& 7 court and council chamber.
P Villa Rotonda R Cappella degli Scrovegni
Via della Rotonda 45. Tel 0498-79 13 Piazza Eremitani. Tel 049-201 00 20.
80. Villa: Open Mar–Nov: Wed & Sat. Open daily (advance booking
The illusionistic stage set of the Teatro & Garden: Open Tue–Sun. & 7 necessary). Closed public hols.
Olimpico in Vicenza ∑ villalarotonda.it & 7

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