Day 25 Wednesday 11th June 2008

We stayed in the apartment for the morning doing washing and updating the website. After lunch we drove up to Lugo di Vicenza to visit a Villa Godi, reputedly the first by Palladio. What we found was not one villa but two next door to each other.

We looked around the Villa Piovene first. Villa Piovene looked magnificent – large ornate gateway with steps and path leading up to the villa entrance. The gateposts and steps were decorated with statues and the villa was a considerable height above the entrance. The villa front had the large loggia with columns and a triangular pediment. We could not see around the interior of the villa but were allowed to walk around the grounds and take photos. There was also a 19th century park to walk in. All is not as it seems as this villa apparently is of several different ages. Palladio, in 1587, was asked to alter an existing building and did so. 

Villa Godi was built in 1540 and Palladio was reported to be the architect, although he was only an apprentice at that time.  It lacks the details that Palladio borrowed from the ancient Romans, such as the front loggia with triangular impediment. But many of the lasting details were there, the large central hall with symmetrical rooms off either side. The interior was very well decorated with frescoes of classical icons and scenes.

We returned calling in at a supermarket for food. As the evening drew on threatening clouds came over and there was much thunder and lightning, but we did not see much rain.

Start mileage 13815			Finish	13894		Miles travelled = 79
								Total miles =  2409

Day 26 Thursday 12th June 2008

We went to Padova by train today, leaving the car in the car park in Vicenza. We were expecting rain and clouds but saw little of either until late afternoon. We explored Padova somewhat, visiting the Cathedral, the Basilica of St Anthony with its 8 domes, the Prato delle Valle (used to be a Roman theatre but is now a park), the site of the Roman amphitheatre (now only a few short stretches of wall remain). We were unable to get a visit to the Dissection Theatre or to the Scrovegni Chapel and so will have to come again. The basilica is dedicated to St. Anthony and is very well decorated inside. There is a chapel containing his tomb where people were obviously praying to the saint either on their knees or with their hands on the tomb itself. Tomorrow is the festival day for St Anthony and there will be masses and other events. The cathedral was quite plain but there was a magnificent market area. 

There were 2 piazzas, one full of fruit and vegetable stalls and the other with general goods. In the middle was a historic market hall full of meat, fish and cheese stalls and with a gallery upstairs. The building was started in 1218. There were a lot of modern and expensive shops in the pedestrian historical area which was pleasant to walk through.

We returned via the A&O to a wet Vicenza.

Start Mileage 13894			Finish	13912		Miles travelled = 18
								Total miles = 2427