Palazzo Chiericati

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The façade of Palazzo Chiericati, in Vicenza.

Palazzo Chiericati is a Renaissance palace in Vicenza (northern Italy), designed by Andrea Palladio. Since 1855 it has been the Museo Civico ("Town Museum") and, more recently, the City's art Gallery. Like the other Palladian buildings of Vicenza, it is part of the UNESCO World Heritage Site The Palladian Villas of the Veneto.

The Palazzo was commissioned to Palladio by count Girolamo Chiericati. The architect started the works in 1550, some further work was completed under the patronage of Chiericati's son and heir Valerio. However, the palazzo was not finally completed until circa 1680, possibly by Carlo Borella.

The palace was built in an area called "piazza dell'Isola" ("Island Square", current Piazza Matteotti), as in that period formed an islet surrounded by the Retrone and Bacchiglione streams, and which had housed the wood and cattle market. To protect the structure from the frequent floods, Palladio designed it on an elevated position: the entrance could be accessed by a triple Classic-style staircase.

The palace's principal facade composes three bays, the central bay projecting slightly. The two terminating bays have logge on the piano nobile level, while the central bay is closed. The façade has two superposed orders of columns, Doric order on the lower level with Ionic above. The roofoline is decorated by statuary.