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Location
Vicenza is about 90 km west of Venice, and it is well connected by
highways, railway and a small airport.
Its name is famous in the world for the productivity and the
importance of some sectors such as gold. Vicenza, in fact, can be
considered the "City of Gold". There are about 1,000 Vicentine
companies which work in this sector which represents a very large
percentage of the Italian exports. International operators never
miss the three fairs dedicated to gold that Vicenza holds every
year. Another typical product line is artistic ceramics, especially
in the area of Nove and Bassano.
The town was built at the bottom of beautiful rolling hills (Colli
Berici) and it is known as artistic town, thanks to the opera of
the famous architect Andrea Palladio (XVI c.), who built the
Cathedral, the City Hall and a lot of marvellous classic
Villas.
Vicenza's downtown is a perfect example of a historical town that
grew up during the centuries without loosing its core-values.
In 1984, Vicenza was added to the prestigious "World Heritage List"
by UNESCO. The most important artisan is Andrea Palladio. The
entire historical centre is "Palladian" and the Basilica in "Piazza
dei Signori" is worthy of note. The Olympic theatre is a
masterpiece and a true jewel of the renaissance era. Just outside
the city centre is the famous villa called the "Rotonda", a unique
structure which has been a symbol of the city since it was built at
the end of the 1500's and was used as a model by the U.S.
President, Thomas Jefferson for his personal estate called
Monticello. Other examples of Palladio's work can be found in the
countryside of Vicenza in the villas designed by Palladio where
their refined beauty is only second to the joy of discovering these
small and little-known
treasures. |
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