Palladian Basilica

Architectural Literacy Project

The Basilica Palladiana is a symbolic Renaissance building in the central Piazza dei Signori in Vicenza, north-eastern Italy. The most notable feature of the edifice is the loggia, a covered outdoor space with a partial outer wall that’s open to the elements, which shows one of the first examples of what have come to be known as the Palladian window, designed by a young Andrea Palladio. These windows feature characteristic arches and columns that can be seen on the facade of the building. Along with the loggias with serliana openings in white marble, the building features a copper-lined, inverted ship’s hull roof inspired by that of the Palazzo della Ragione in Padua. The building was originally constructed in the 15th century as a Gothic law court and was known as the Palazzo della Ragione. In 1546 Andrea Palladio was chosen to reconstruct the building. Palladio named the building a basilica, after the Roman civil structures of that name. The building was completed in 1614. Between 2007 and 2012, the Basilica was restored and opened for tourism. The building has three independent exhibition spaces that are used to host architecture and art exhibitions of international renown.