Want to learn more about the Villa Rotunda, Italy? Read on for facts and info on this architectural masterpiece of Italy…
The Villa Rotunda is one of the most significant architectural sites of Italy. Developed and designed by a prominent Renaissance architect, Andrea Palladio, the Villa attracts tourists from all over the world who marvel at the fine example of Palladium architecture.
Travel and tourism companies that specialize in planning Italian holidays always make it a point to include a trip to the Villa Rotunda in their guided tours. The locality where the villa is situated has a number of other fine examples of Palladium style architecture in the neighboring villages. Furthermore, it is situated close to the floating city of Venice, which makes it easy to reach from the major city.
The Villa Rotunda is rightly considered as being the epitome of Palladian architecture. In fact, the Italians have an old saying regarding this architectural site which goes as “formed by the landscape and forming the landscape”.
The villa has attracted the attention and admiration of both, scholars and laymen since the time it was erected many centuries ago. The unique aesthetic sense employed in the construction and designing of the architectural masterpiece has inspired many architects all over the world to construct similar works of architecture. In fact many exact replicas of the Villa Rotunda can be seen all over.
In order to embody the essence of the villa in its name it has always been referred to as “La Rotonda”. The unique architectural aspect of this particular building is the fact that it was deliberately conceived so as to be viewed from all sides. At the same time it provides a panoramic 360° view when looking out from the inside.
The architect responsible for designing this historical building took inspiration from the Pantheon in Rome, which he extensively studied. The Pantheon was known as the “La Rotonda” in history and that is from where the building gets it name.
Although the building is popularly known as a villa, the architect himself actually referred to the building as a Palazzo in his more famous books about architecture. The reason for classifying it as a Palazzo is due to its close proximity to the Italian city of Vicenza.
The fact that it was situated on an elevated hill also caused the architect to make this classification. Another fact that had influenced the architects’ decision was that the building had no specific attachment to the land on which it was erected.
The Villa Rotonda, in all its essence is definitely not a villa farm. This was because it was designed to serve as a pleasure palace for the patron of the villa, Paolo Almerico. The patron commissioned the architect to design the building where he could entertain his high status guests and thus came about the historical building of Villa Rotunda.
