Vicenza is above all Andrea Palladio with his Olympic Theatre, the Palladian Basilica, the splendid palaces and noble villas, the most important being the "La Rotonda". The city and its palaces were some years ago included in UNESCO's World Heritage List.

Vicenza is one of the oldest cities of the Veneto region, even if little is known of its history before it became part of the Roman empire, enjoying a moment of great splendour under Emperor Hadrian. It was later plundered by Barbarians, but flourished once more under the Goths, the Langobards and the Franks. In 1404 it submitted to the dominion of Venezia. Its golden century was the sixteenth: in this century the aristocracy enriched the city with splendid architectural monuments, thanks to Andrea Palladio and his school. A city behind the lines during World War I, it suffered bombing which nevertheless saved the ancient architectures.

Large numbers of emigrants once abandoned Vicenza and its province. Today it is one of Italy's most active cities with its textile, gold and tanning industries, which export their products all over the world. The associations of industrialists, craftsmen and small industries of Vicenza are among the most important in the country. The Province of Vicenza does not only centre on its most important city: other well-known locations include Bassano (with the famous bridge dedicated to the Alpine troops), Marostica (with the historical chess game), the important industrial cities Thiene, Valdagno, Arzignano and Schio, the Asiago highlands, the historical Monte Grappa, Lonigo. Not to mention the splendid landscapes of the Berici hills which softly level out towards the lowlands guarded by the Madonna of Monte Berico, visited by pilgrims from all Italy.

The Province of Vicenza has also become famous for its characteristic products: Vicenza-style cod, the peas of Luignano, the asparagus of Bassano, Grappa liquor, "Asiago" cheese, the characteristic home-made spaghetti, the local sausage, candied fruit and many other dishes. The Olympic theatre, considered the world's oldest covered theatre and one of Palladio's masterpieces, hosts outstanding concerts and theatre performances every year, attracting a large number of spectators.