Vicenza; Friday, 13 March, 2026

Despite having stayed overnight in an airport hotel it was still a very early alarm call so that I was down at the bus stop in time for the service round to Terminal 5, where I had a smooth journey through the airport and onto the flight, and a smooth journey at the other end with immigration being almost deserted so I was through in under 10 minutes.

I picked up the airport bus through to Venice and caught that all the way onto the lagoon where I headed over to Santa Lucia station to pick up the train out to Vicenza. It would probably have been quicker, and cheaper to have caught the other airport bus over to Mestre station and pick up the train there, but it was a pleasant morning and I wasn’t in a rush to get to Vicenza as the hotel wouldn’t let me checkin before 2pm.

The train journey over to Vicenza was very comfortable and smooth and by the time I’d walked the 700m or so from the station to the hotel it was almost checkin time so I didn’t have to wait very long before I was able to get up into my room.

I’d needed to make sure I got in on time as, despite being out on annual leave, work needed me to attend a meeting with a potential customer, so after getting into my room and getting comfortable I pulled all the work stuff out and spent a couple of hours back on the clock.

Work completed I was able to pack that all away and actually get started with my holiday by heading out of the hotel and just a couple of steps away into the main square of the city the Piazza del Signori. The square is dominated by the stunning building of the Basilica Palladiana with it’s impressive ships hull style roof and pencil thin but very tall clocktower. The building was designed by Andre Palladino, a Padua born architect from the 16th century who is widely held to be one of the most influential architects in history – the Palladian style of architecture is named for him, and much of Vicenza from the Council chambers of the Basilica Palladiana to multiple Palazzo and the city’s historic Teatro Olympico are works of Palladino’s.

I headed into the Basilica to have a look around, and to purchase a ticket that covered almost all of the key sights in the city, and then headed up into the building. Part of the main chamber building were closed off at the time of visiting as these days it doubles up as the city’s venue for changing exhibits and they were in the process of setting the next one up, but it was still possible to take in the sheer scale of the room with it’s massive arched roof without a single support column. Outside it’s possible to wander along the loggia and take in the views of the squares all around the building.

It was from here that I was also able to spot a very pleasant looking café down in a small side square that appeared to be doing a roaring trade in Spritz Aperol and nibbles, and as it was fast approaching 5pm I decided it may as well be Spritz O’Clock.

After enjoying the drink and nibbles in the café I went for a long wander around the city, heading down first to the Teatro Olympico and then up through the main street – the CPorso Andrea Palladio to the area of the former city walls, the Porta Castello, and just beyond that the Giardino Salvi. After a brief pause in the gardens I continued wandering taking in the Piazza Duomo and the outside of the cathedral before heading back in towards the very centre of the city to find a place to grab some dinner, as 7:30-8 was the recommended time for dining in the city.

I had a very nice dinner, sat outside on the Piazzetta Palladio – Yes they do really have a thing for old Andre – before a gentle stagger back to the hotel under the weight of quite a lot of food and a very nice local pinot grigio, and the welcoming sight of my bed to try and catch up on the sleep missed from the early start.