PALAZZO BARBARAN DA PORTO

This building, located in Contrà Porti, was constructed between 1570 and 1575 and is now home to the CISA (Centro Internazionale di Studi di Architettura di Andrea Palladio – Andrea Palladio International Centre of Architectural Studies) and the Palladio Museum. It is the only municipal building that Andrea Palladio created entirely on his own. It was commissioned by the Vicenza nobleman Montano Barbarano. Palazzo Barbaran Da Porto is now considered the least “Palladian” of works created by this great architect due to the fact that its façade is asymmetric, with the entrance located in the third of the nine spans, as is the courtyard, which is also overlooked on only the southern side by an impressive loggia. The exterior decoration is rich, featuring festoons and bas-relief. The entry is also stunning, thanks to a series of Serlian arches.