To Tourist Information first thing to pick up a city map and to ask about the route to the Basilica di Monte Bérico, a church near the top of a hill south-east of the city. A ten minute walk along the road, then about 200 very steep steps, a gentler hill, and finally a series of porticos like those of Bologna, leading up to the church. It's Sunday, and the Rough Guide correctly warns of "pilgrims by the busload". Many people were leaving the church so I thought I would soon be able to go in to see two works by Montagna and Veronese, but it was still full and there seemed to be a continuous mass in progress.
So I carried on to the top of the hill and to the Museo di Risorgimento e della Resistenza, a display of Vicenza's resistance to Austria in the mid-19th century and of the anti-facist fighters in WWII. There were displays of maps, documents, uniforms and weapons (including a useful bicycle with a very long sword-carrier running from the handlebars down the side of the front fork). The museum is set in a very nice wooded area, with specimen trees, and I spent some time sitting on a bench and just relaxing in the sun. Generally the weather was cloudy and heavy, though, and later there was rain and a thunderstorm. I had a view though the trees back to Monte Bérico:
Then took a path which the map on display said led to Palladio's La Rotonda, or Villa Capra. The earthy path and steps became steeper and steeper, and descended a very long way. I was beginning to wonder if I was going to end up in the wrong valley when I emerged from the woods into a field of vines, near a small road which seemed to match my tourist map. Another 15 minute walk and I found La Rotonda ten minutes before the grounds closed (the villa itself is only open on Wednesdays). Although relatively small it's often considered Palladio's most perfect building. A chance for a few quick photos before joining the main road for a 20 minute slog back into town.
