Museo Civico di Palazzo Chiericati

About the museum

The palazzo was designed by Andrea Palladio in 1550 for Girolamo Chiericati and completed only at the end of the 17th century. In 1839 the Comune di Vicenza bought it, in a state of serious decay, to bring the civic collections together there, and had it restored and enlarged by the architects Berti and Miglioranza.

The first nucleus of works dates from 1820, with the deposits of the Congregazione di Carità and the paintings from the church of San Bartolomeo. Between 1825 and 1838 important bequests arrived: ninety paintings by Paolina Porto Godi, the finds from the bequest of Girolamo Egidio di Velo, the 364 paintings of Carlo Vicentini dal Giglio and 33 drawings by Palladio donated by Gaetano Pinali. The museum was inaugurated in its present seat on 18 August 1855. In 1991 the natural history and archaeological collections moved to the Chiostri di Santa Corona, leaving the artistic collections at Palazzo Chiericati.

The route extends over several floors, from the Sala dei Lunettoni on the ground floor, which tells the story of Vicenza under Venetian rule, to the medieval and Renaissance rooms on the first floor and the second floor with the Venetian masters of the 16th and 18th centuries. The basement, reopened in 2012, shows the foundations of the ancient Chiericati houses and the roggia del Collo (a canal), covered by a 13th-century vault.

Highlights

• Palazzo designed by Andrea Palladio in 1550
• Palladio drawings and the Gabinetto disegni e stampe (prints and drawings room)
• Works by Paolo Veneziano, Memling, Montagna and Cima da Conegliano
• Venetian masters of the 16th century: Tintoretto, Veronese and Bassano
• Basement with the medieval foundations and the roggia del Collo

Permanent exhibitions

• Percorso permanente: dal Medioevo all'Ottocento – Paintings and sculptures from the Middle Ages to the 19th century on three floors, from the Sala dei Lunettoni to the Venetian masters of the 16th and 18th centuries.
• Collezione Giuseppe Roi – Paintings, drawings and prints from the 15th to the 20th century from the Roi bequest, displayed in the attic in a house-museum setting; the rooms have been closed since 4 May 2026 for re-display.
• Piano interrato e roggia del Collo – The foundations of the Chiericati houses of the 14th and 15th centuries, the service kitchens and cellars, and the roggia del Collo with its 13th-century vault.

Founded

1855

Operated by

Comune di Vicenza (Musei Civici)

Admission & discounts

The single ticket is valid for one day from the date of purchase; online it is bought on Ticketlandia, but reduced rates and free admissions apply only at the physical ticket offices. Free admission also for children of the municipal nurseries (asili nido) and kindergartens (scuole dell'infanzia), teachers accompanying school classes and groups, ICOM members, tourist guides registered on the national list, journalists, military personnel and police forces.

Accessibility

• Partially wheelchair accessible
• Elevator
• Accessible restroom
• Accessible parking: no information
• Service dogs welcome: no information
• Tactile models & exhibits
• Sign language tours: no information
• Easy-to-read materials: no information
• Audio description

Two lifts serve four of the five floors (doors of 89 and 88 cm, Braille buttons and an audio signal). The main entrance has steps on three sides; on the north side a ramp with an 8% gradient replaces two steps. The Giuseppe Roi collection cannot be reached by lift, and the Gabinetto disegni e stampe (on request) is reached only by stairs. On the ground floor there is an accessible toilet with a 90 cm door. Wheelchairs available on request. For visitors who are blind or partially sighted there are a virtual audio route on 49 works, 3D reproductions of 10 works and captions in Italian and English; the museum guide is also available in AAC (augmentative and alternative communication). There is a quiet area with benches.

Kids & families

• Baby changing facilities

The educational workshop on the ground floor has its own toilet and a changing table, and is used for school activities and workshops. Free admission up to age 17, and Family Gold Card for families (€26).

Getting there & parking

The museum is in Piazza Matteotti, in the historic centre of Vicenza; at Piazza Matteotti 12 is also the IAT office, where tickets can be bought.

Amenities & dining

• Coat check
• Lockers

The cloakroom has 12 lockers with power sockets.

Events & venue rental

• Spaces for rent
• Weddings / ceremonies

The Comune lends rooms for conferences, meetings, ceremonies and events; weddings and civil unions are celebrated at Palazzo Chiericati by booking.

Plan your visit