Palladio Museum

About the museum

The Palladio Museum is housed in the Palazzo Barbaran da Porto (also known as Barbarano), one of Andrea Palladio's finest buildings and the only one the architect managed to complete both in its structure and in its decorative features, at the cost of ruining his client Montano Barbarano. The palace is also the seat of the Centro internazionale di studi di architettura Andrea Palladio.

The museum describes itself as a museum-workshop: alongside the works, the scholars who study them are presented, and the research of the Palladian Centre becomes the theme of the rooms. Each room generally lasts one year, according to a three-year programme, while the display with dynamic lighting, video projections and showcases remains the same. Themes addressed so far include communication, technology, the relationship with the economy and with the landscape, and the design of complex structures.

Rather than the history of the buildings, the museum tells the story of the people who conceived, built and communicated them, and shows the tools of this thinking: architectural drawings, models, photographs and videos. It is conceived as the start of a journey to discover the Palladian buildings of Vicenza, linked to the museum by the single ticket “Vicenza città bellissima”, and the villas in the Veneto countryside.

Highlights

• Palazzo Barbaran da Porto, by Andrea Palladio
• Thematic rooms renewed every year: Sala Barbarano, Sala della carta, Sala della pietra, Sala della seta, Sala del grano and Sala di Venezia
• Sala Tiepolo
• Architectural drawings, models, photographs and videos
• Centre library and bookshop

Permanent exhibition

• Sale tematiche del museo-laboratorio – The museum rooms present the research of the Palladian Centre on Palladio and architecture, with drawings, models and videos; the content changes from year to year.

Operated by

Centro internazionale di studi di architettura Andrea Palladio (CISA)

Visitors per year

approx. 32,348

Admission & discounts

The ticket covers the museum and the exhibitions. Free admission also for journalists, ICOM members, two teachers per class and military personnel. The single ticket “Vicenza città bellissima” links the museum with the Palladian buildings of the city.

Accessibility

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

The museum is fully accessible to people with mobility disabilities.

Kids & families

• Family tours & workshops
• Baby changing facilities

The toilet is equipped with a changing table. The museum has educational services for schools and families and a “Palladio family” ticket.

Getting there & parking

By car from Milan: A4 motorway, Vicenza ovest exit; from Venice: A4, Vicenza est exit.

Amenities & dining

• Museum shop
• Coat check

Ticket office with bookshop and cloakroom on the ground floor; library of the Centre.

Events & venue rental

The museum hasn’t published any information on this.

Plan your visit