The Teatro Olimpico in Vicenza was commissioned from Palladio by the Accademia Olimpica, of which Palladio was a member. Palladio's theater was in part inspired by the ruins of the ancient Roman theater in Vicenza and other Roman theaters he had visited, as well as by his study of Vitruvius's comments on ancient theaters.
Palladio in 1570 published I quattro libri dell’architettura. This work was a summary of his studies of classical architecture. He used a number of his own designs to exemplify the principles of Roman design. The third book contains designs for bridges, ancient town planning, and basilicas, or ancient Roman oblong halls for public assembly, later adopted as a prototype for the Christian church. His costly plan to reconstruct the Rialto Bridge was never realized, but there are a few existing bridges, such as the Ponte Vecchio at Bassano del Grappa, attributed to Palladio.
Works by Palladio |
Churches in Venice |
Palaces in Vicenza |
Villas in Veneto |
Other constructions |