Palazzo Valmarana Braga

Declared a UNESCO World Heritage site, Palazzo Valmarana Braga is located in the heart of the city of Vicenza and is among the most significant works designed by A. Palladio in 1565, commissioned by Count Alvise Valmarana, particularly noted for the beauty of its recently restored façade, where the original plasters have been preserved.

The entrance with the majestic columns and the staircase adorned with statues and busts fascinate visitors with the harmony of the proportions and the grandeur of the interior spaces, adorned with Murano chandeliers and a collection of paintings by Giulio Carpioni. On the ground floor is the beautiful study of Count Valmarana with stuccoes and frescoes by Zelotti and Rubini.

The history of Palazzo Valmarana Braga
On December 14, 1565, Isabella Nogarole, widow of Giovanni Alvise Valmarana, in order to perpetuate his memory, contracted with the builder Pietro di Nanto for the construction of the Palazzo. A commemorative medal found at the base of the atrium columns confirms the start of the work in 1566. The palace stands on an area owned by the Valmarana family since 1483, extending from Corso Fogazzaro to the Church of San Giacomo. The layout of the palace is constrained between two existing buildings and thus could not expand in width. From this arose Palladio’s brilliant insight to abandon the classical scheme of placing the main hall in the center, typical of Venetian architecture. The main hall was thus moved parallel to the façade, taking light from the courtyard. This allowed Palladio to create a grand portico overlooking the courtyard, which serves as the palace’s atrium on which the main floor hall rests. The plate from the treaty (1570) regularizes the plan, which in reality is oblique towards the street. The main façade was defined as an immense high relief, particularly appreciable when viewed obliquely. It connects ingeniously with the adjoining houses. The order is suspended, the six giant pilasters are restrained about three meters from the end of the façade, and two gigantic statues holding the family’s coats of arms are placed at the conclusion of the work.

Adding to the already intensely elaborate design are four high reliefs depicting events from Roman history (works by Domenico Fontana). Unfinished to this day, this work is part of Palladio’s maturity. Compared to the ideal project published in the four books of architecture, the construction, built on the foundations and part of the main walls of a pre-existing 15th-century building, features some adaptations due to the structure of the block. At the back of the courtyard (see Avviso map) at the edge of the internal court, there was another building that included a stable. The bombing of March 18, 1945, destroyed part of the palace, demolishing the roof and much of the central hall. In 1960, Vittor Luigi Braga Rosa purchased the palace in ruins from the Valmarana family and began the restoration and reconstruction of the parts demolished during the war.

Staying at Palazzo Valmarana Braga
Palazzo Valmarana Braga offers its guests several apartments within the palace, carefully furnished and equipped with every comfort, to provide visitors with a unique experience. The palace is a place rich in historical memories and rare charm, offering an exceptionally prestigious choice for those who wish to experience the atmosphere of staying in a Palladian residence.