67th Course on Palladian Architecture
Palladio on the building siteVicenza + Veneto, 26th August - 1th September 2025[registration open]
In recent decades, the study of the forms, contexts and patrons of historical buildings has increasingly been accompanied by an in-depth analysis of their material reality. How are they built? With which materials and techniques? These are questions that reveal crucial aspects of Palladio's architectural personality. Brought up on building sites, he was always able to adapt traditional materials and construction techniques to his own expressive needs, inventing a "low-cost" architecture that could simulate the richness of the ancient style while making limited use of stone and precious marble.
The 2025 Course maintains the traditional programme of visits to the main Palladian works, which are real seminars inside the buildings. In order to provide a complete overview of "Palladio the builder", this year's Course will be led by Italian and international architectural historians specialising in Palladio, together with experts in the conservation of historical monuments who, over the last fifteen years, have personally supervised research campaigns or the conservation and restoration of buildings.
The seven-day Course is open to architectural and art historians, architects, engineers and anyone interested in learning more about Palladio's work.
Lecturers
Donata Battilotti (formerly Università di Udine)
Giovanna Battista (SABAP Verona, Rovigo e Vicenza)
Guido Beltramini (CISA Andrea Palladio, Vicenza)
Andreas Beyer (Universität Basel, Basilea)
Bruce Boucher (formerly Sir John Soane’s Museum, Londra)
Cammy Brothers (Northeastern University, Boston)
Federico Cetrangolo (SABAP Verona, Rovigo e Vicenza)
Silvia Dandria (SABAP Verona, Rovigo e Vicenza)
Edoardo Danzi (Università Iuav di Venezia)
Paolo Faccio (Università Iuav di Venezia)
Antonio Foscari (Università Iuav di Venezia)
Gianmario Guidarelli (Università di Padova)
Charles Hind (formerly Royal Institute of British Architects, Londra)
Olivia Horsfall Turner (Royal Institute of British Architects, Londra)
Adelmo Lazzari (architect)
Francesco Marcorin (CISA Andrea Palladio, Vicenza)
Damiana Lucia Paternò (SABAP per l’area metropolitana di Venezia)
Mario Piana (formerly Università Iuav di Venezia)
Francesca Salatin (Università Iuav di Venezia)
Marlene Schwemer (Universität Wien)
Vitale Zanchettin (Musei Vaticani, Roma; Università Iuav di Venezia)
Programme
Tuesday, 26th August
Palladio Museum, Vicenza
9:00 Opening remarks and distribution of materials.
9.30 Mario Piana, Andrea Palladio e le tecniche.
Seminar on architecture and construction books [Francesca Salatin].
Architecture seminars in Vicenza [Donata Battilotti, Guido Beltramini, Federico Cetrangolo, Francesco Marcorin, Damiana Lucia Paternò, Mario Piana]: Palazzo Barbarano, loggias of the Basilica, Palazzo Chiericati, Palladio Museum, Palazzo Valmarana, Palazzo Thiene, Palazzo Porto.
Wednesday, 27th August
Architecture seminars [Donata Battilotti, Guido Beltramini, Adelmo Lazzari, Vitale Zanchettin]: Villa Trissino at Meledo, Villa Arnaldi at Meledo, Villa Pisani at Bagnolo.
Thursday, 28th August
Architecture seminars in Venice [Gianmario Guidarelli, Mario Piana]: Monastery of the Carità, Church and Monastery of San Giorgio Maggiore, Church and Garden of the Redentore.
Friday, 29th August
Architecture seminars [Giovanna Battista, Bruce Boucher, Silvia Dandria, Antonio Foscari]: Villa Capra ‘la Rotonda’ in Vicenza, Villa Foscari ‘la Malcontenta’ at Mira, Villa Badoer at Fratta Polesine, Villa Garzoni at Pontecasale.
Saturday, 30th August
Architecture seminars [Cammy Brothers, Paolo Faccio, Damiana Lucia Paternò]: Villa and Tempietto Barbaro at Maser, Villa Emo at Fanzolo, Villa Cornaro at Piombino Dese.
Sunday, 31th August
PalladioLab [Damiana Lucia Paternò]: Villa Gazzotti at Bertesina.
Architecture seminars [Guido Beltramini, Adelmo Lazzari, Damiana Lucia Paternò, Marlene Schwemer]: Villa Thiene at Quinto, Villa Poiana at Poiana Maggiore, Villa Pisani at Montagnana.
19.30-21.00 Reception to celebrate Charles Hind’s retirement from his role as Chief Curator and H.J. Heinz Curator of Drawings, RIBA Collections.
Monday, 1st September
Architecture seminars in Vicenza [Giovanna Battista, Andreas Beyer, Edoardo Danzi]: Teatro Olimpico.
Seminars on the books of British Palladianism and on the drawings [Guido Beltramini, Charles Hind, Olivia Horsfall Turner].
Closing remarks and certificate distribution.
Participation grants are available. Application for grants to be submitted by Monday 30th June by filling the online form.
