Vicenza is about 50 km west of Venice, and it is well connected by highways, railway and a small airport.
Its name is famous in the world for the productivity and the importance of some sectors such as gold. Vicenza, in fact, can be considered the "City of Gold".  There are about 1,000 Vicentine companies which work in this sector which represents a very large percentage of the Italian exports. International operators never miss the three fairs dedicated to gold that Vicenza holds every year. Another typical product line is artistic ceramics, especially in the area of Nove and Bassano.
The town was built at the bottom of beautiful rolling hills (Colli Berici) and it is known as artistic town, thanks to the opera of the famous architect Andrea Palladio (XVI c.), who built the Cathedral, the City Hall and a lot of marvellous classic Villas.
Vicenza's downtown is a perfect example of a historical town that grew up during the centuries without loosing its core-values.
In 1984, Vicenza was added to the prestigious "World Heritage List" by UNESCO. The most important artisan is Andrea Palladio. The entire historical centre is "Palladian" and the Basilica in "Piazza dei Signori" is worthy of note. The Olympic theatre is a masterpiece and a true jewel of the renaissance era. Just outside the city centre is the famous villa called the "Rotonda", a unique structure which has been a symbol of the city since it was built at the end of the 1500's and was used as a model by the U.S. President, Thomas Jefferson for his personal estate called Monticello. Other examples of Palladio's work can be found in the countryside of Vicenza in the villas designed by Palladio where   their refined beauty is only second to the joy of discovering these small and little-known treasures.