PALAZZO THIENE

It was in 1542 that Marcantonio Thiene decided to enlarge his family residence, situated in Contrà Porti and constructed by Lorenzo da Bologna in 1489. He decided to entrust Andrea Palladio with the construction of a new and majestic square-shaped building along the Contrà S. Gaetano Thiene and the main road of the city, reaching as far as Contrà Porti.
The façade on Contrà San Gaetano Thiene has two floors: downstairs has a rustic plastered stone and brick ashlar, while the upper floor has a light ashlar with Corinthian pillars in the walls, tabernacle windows, and a small gable. The cornice of the roof is very particular, alternating masks and lions’ heads, which originally served as the downspouts.
Currently the building is the historic office of the Banca Popolare di Vicenza.