Lynn and Nick in Europe, 2009

Vicenza, 4-5 August

		After leaving Mantua, we drove most of the way back to Venice to visit Villa Pisani at Stra, on the outskirts of Padua. A modest place, as you can see, much loved by megalomaniacs. It was built to celebrate the election of Alvise Pisani as Doge of Venice in 1735, was bought by Napoleon in 1807, and was the scene of the first meeting between Mussolini and Hitler in 1934. †
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		There are statues throughout the grounds. *
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		This folly was built as a place to drink coffee. *
		Our main purpose in visiting Vicenza was to see Palladio's masterpiece of a house, La Rotonda. The house is still occupied, so the interior is open only on Wednesdays. No photography is allowed inside, and the outside is not easy to photograph either. *
		A short walk away is Villa Valmarana, which has this plain classic exterior and quite extraordinary frescoes inside. Again, no photos indoors. †
		Villa Valmarana is also known as Villa ai Nani, "Villa of the Dwarfs", because of these statues on its wall. †
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		Basilica di Monte Bérico, seen from near La Rotonda. *
		Panorama from Monte Bérico. *
		Lion of St Mark atop a column in the main piazza of Vicenza. †
		Vicenza has an ancient theatre, but larger than the one at Sabionetta. *
		This is the stage of the theatre in Vicenza, with various passageways for the actors' entries and exits. †

Then we went on to revisit Lake Como, staying in Bellagio.