Vicenza is a large city but its historic core is relatively small and walkable. On the other hand, I had given the city too much time – you can see most of what you want to see in less than half a day. I’m sure that many people travel through and in two hours are content that they have seen enough. Most of what you want to see is on or near the Corso Palladio, for this is the city of the great Italian architect.
At one end of the street is the Piazza Matteoti where you will find the Teatro Olympico, the Museo Civico in the Palazzo Chiericati and the tourist information office. You can see both the major sites in the piazza on a 7 euro combination ticket. The Teatro is a Palladian masterwork. You really must see it. . . a wooden and plaster theatre filled with classical statuary and columns. Its triumph is also the stage as an exercise in perspective. It really defies description. One must enter and then sit down and gape like a fool at the fact that this exists at all.
The Museo Civico gives you two things: a palazzo in which ceilings and murals are still intact in some of the rooms and an extensive collection of artwork. There are the usual religious works but there is also a fair amount of 16-18th century art with classical and pastoral themes.
The Corso Palladio is a pedestrian way. You need only walk a block deep on each side to see a number of Palladio’s masterpieces. In the large Piazza Biade/Erbe/Signori, a city showcase, you will find the Basilica Palladiana and the Loggia del Capitanito. A little further down the street is the duomo in the piazza Duomo.
On the other side of the Corso Palladio, you can see the Palazzo Leoni Montanari which houses exhibitions and the Palazzo Barbaran da Porto, where for 5 euros you can see and architectural display of Palladio’s work.
As I say, take a chance, a walk down and street will reveal examples of Palladio’s work or the work of his contemporaries. The Corso Palladio appears to be the focal point of Vicenza. Its shops don’t sell trinkets for tourists; they sell designer clothes and high-end things. It is interesting. . . but it won’t take a long, long time.