The classic
Vicenza, Palladio's city
Teatro Olimpico, Corso Palladio, Santa Corona and the Basilica Palladiana on Piazza dei Signori: the essential walking tour for understanding Vicenza.
Discover the tour
GiraVicenza · Licensed tour guide
Private tours in Vicenza with licensed guide Daniela Zarpellon
Private guided visits in Palladio's city and the Palladian villas of the Veneto, shaped around your timing and your interests, in English, Italian or French.
- Guiding since 2008
- Licensed guide no. 05000058
- Private tours only
- IT · EN · FR
At a glance
A Vicenza private tour guide, from the historic centre to the Palladian villas
Daniela Zarpellon is a licensed Vicenza private tour guide, listed on Italy's National Register of Tour Guides (no. 05000058), who has been showing private guests around Palladio's city and the Veneto villas since 2008. Guided tours of Vicenza usually last from two and a half hours to a full day: three hours for the historic centre with the Teatro Olimpico and the Basilica Palladiana, four to five hours for La Rotonda and Villa Valmarana ai Nani. Every tour is for you alone, in English, Italian or French, and is designed for couples, families, schools, small groups and visitors coming for the day from Venice or Verona.
Why a licensed guide
Less noise, more meaning
You can cross Vicenza on foot in a few minutes, but you only really understand it when someone helps you read it. With "The City of Vicenza and the Palladian Villas of the Veneto" a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1994, every façade tells of an idea of architecture that has travelled the world.
| Licensed private guide | Standard group tour | |
|---|---|---|
| Itinerary | Planned before your visit around your group's dates, interests and pace | Fixed route, the same for every participant |
| Content | Historical and artistic interpretation from a professional on the National Register | Commentary often simplified and tied to the group's schedule |
| Pace | Calm and personal: you linger where you are interested and skip what you don't need | Collective pace, sometimes rushed |
| Questions | An ongoing conversation, suitable for children and students too | Little room for individual questions |
| Logistics | Help with tickets, bookings and getting to the villas, with costs stated in advance | Pre-set package, few alternatives |
Italian Law no. 190 of 13 December 2023 (Legge 13 dicembre 2023, n. 190) established the National Register of Tour Guides: choosing a registered guide means relying on a professional whose skills have been verified.
Who it's for
Guided tours of Vicenza designed around you
Every visit starts with a simple question: who you are, and what you would like to take home from the day.
Couples
An unhurried stroll past the palazzi of the centre, a coffee stop in Piazza dei Signori, the view from Monte Berico at sunset.
Families with children
Short, concrete stories, frequent breaks and places that surprise even the youngest, such as the "dwarf" statues of Villa Valmarana or the stage sets of the Teatro Olimpico.
Architecture lovers
Andrea Palladio from his first palazzo to his last works, plus a route devoted to Carlo Scarpa for those who love the twentieth century.
Schools and classes
Educational routes for teachers and classes, from the Roman Vicenza of the Criptoportico to Palladio's Renaissance, pitched to the students' age.
Groups and companies
Small groups of friends, cultural associations or corporate guests: a tailor-made programme, which can also be combined with lunches and meetings.
Visitors from Venice, Verona or a cruise
Vicenza lies on the railway line between Venice and Verona: a well-planned day lets you see the centre and at least one villa before heading back.
Meet Daniela
A Vicenza-born guide, between art history and landscape
Daniela Zarpellon has been a tour guide since 2008. She graduated in Foreign Languages and Literature from the University of Verona, specialising in art history, and continued her studies at Ca' Foscari University of Venice, with a specialisation in the contemporary history of Venice and courses on architecture and Venetian villas (2021) and on landscape architecture and Venetian gardens (2024).
She has completed training in accompanying guests with disabilities and in BLS first aid with the Croce Bianca: details that matter when you travel with elderly parents, children or people with particular needs.
Alongside Palladian architecture she loves modern and contemporary art, Vicenza's food culture, and cycling or walking off the beaten track. In Venice she guides her guests through her sister site VeniceAround.
The tours
Private tours in Vicenza and the villas of the Veneto
Seven routes to start from: the historic centre, the palazzi, La Rotonda and Villa Valmarana, the Palladian villas of the Veneto countryside, the Riviera del Brenta, Carlo Scarpa, and Roman Vicenza for schools. Each one can be shortened, extended or combined.
Villas and Tiepolo
La Rotonda and Villa Valmarana ai Nani
Palladio's most famous villa and the Tiepolo frescoes, linked by a green walk on the edge of the city.
Discover the tour
Architecture
Palladio's palazzi in Vicenza
Palazzo Thiene, Barbaran da Porto, Chiericati and the Loggia del Capitaniato: how Palladio redesigned the city of his patrons.
Discover the tour
Twentieth century
Carlo Scarpa in Vicenza
The Condominio Borgo, Casa Gallo and the dialogue between Scarpa and Palladio in the city where the great architect grew up and later returned to live.
Discover the tour
UNESCO heritage
Palladio's villas in the Veneto
Villa Godi Malinverni, Villa Caldogno, Villa Emo and Villa Barbaro at Maser: the Venetian villa between farming, architecture and frescoes.
Discover the tour
Venetian villeggiatura
Riviera del Brenta
Palladio's La Malcontenta, Villa Widmann and Villa Pisani at Stra along the old waterway of the Venetian patricians.
Discover the tour
Schools
Roman Vicenza for schools
From the Criptoportico to the Museo Naturalistico Archeologico: a route through Roman Vicetia built around the class's age and curriculum.
Discover the tourWhat to see
Places not to miss in Vicenza
The Teatro Olimpico, Palladio's last work and one of the oldest indoor theatres in the world still in use; the Basilica Palladiana on Piazza dei Signori; Villa Almerico Capra, known as La Rotonda; the Tiepolo frescoes at Villa Valmarana ai Nani; the sanctuary of Monte Berico and its view.
Palladio and Scamozzi
Teatro Olimpico
Palladio's last work, opened in 1585 with Oedipus Rex: the perspective scenery of the streets of Thebes is still the original.
Discover the place
The heart of the city
Basilica Palladiana and Piazza dei Signori
Palladio's stone loggias around the Palazzo della Ragione, the Torre Bissara and the Loggia del Capitaniato.
Discover the place
Villa Almerico Capra
Villa La Rotonda
The centrally planned villa that has inspired architects all over the world, on a hill on the edge of Vicenza.
Discover the place
The Tiepolo frescoes
Villa Valmarana ai Nani
Giambattista and Giandomenico Tiepolo, 1757: epic poems, chinoiseries and country scenes, plus the legend of the dwarfs.
Discover the place
Sanctuary and view
Monte Berico
The sanctuary basilica, Veronese's Supper of St Gregory the Great and the finest viewpoint over the city.
Discover the place
How it works
From your first message to the visit
Five simple steps, with no surprises on cost.
Get in touch
Use the form below, email or WhatsApp: dates, number of people, language and what you are most curious about.
Tell us how you like to travel
First time in the Veneto or a return visit, children in tow, a passion for architecture or for food: it all helps to build the right route.
Receive a proposal and a quote
An itinerary with duration, meeting point and a detailed quote: the guide's fee plus any third-party services, such as admission tickets or a car with driver.
Fine-tune the programme together
Stops and times are adjusted, tickets are booked where needed and opening days are checked for places with limited access.
Arrive and enjoy Vicenza
Daniela meets you at the agreed point: all that is left for you is the pleasure of looking, listening and asking questions.
Fees, tickets, accessibility and terms are explained on the how it works, prices and FAQ page.
“Bellissima esperienza con Daniela, che ci ha illustrato con professionalità e simpatia alcune opere del Palladio. Consigliatissima!” (A wonderful experience with Daniela, who showed us some of Palladio's works with professionalism and warmth. Highly recommended!)
Giorgio P., TripAdvisor review, June 2020
TripAdvisor · Gira Vicenza4.7 out of 5 · 43 reviewsRead the reviewsToursByLocals · Daniela Z.5.0 out of 5 · 255 reviews · 576 toursRead the reviews
Figures taken from the platforms in October 2026. How we display reviews
Frequently asked questions
Guided tours of Vicenza: the essential answers
How long does a guided tour of Vicenza take?
The tour of Vicenza's historic centre takes about three hours and usually includes the Teatro Olimpico, Corso Palladio and the Basilica Palladiana. The tour of La Rotonda and Villa Valmarana ai Nani takes four to five hours. Combining the city and the villas makes a full day, with a lunch break.
How much does a private tour guide in Vicenza cost?
There is no single price list, because the cost depends on duration, number of people, language, time of year and any third-party services. Before you confirm, you receive a personalised, detailed quote with no hidden extras.
Are admission tickets included?
No, tickets for museums, theatres and villas are not included in the guide's fee and are paid separately. Daniela helps you book them in advance and lists them in the quote, so you always know what you will spend.
How do you get to the Palladian villas?
La Rotonda and Villa Valmarana ai Nani are just outside the centre, close to each other and linked by the Valletta del Silenzio footpath. For villas in the countryside, such as Villa Emo or Villa Barbaro, you need a car: your own, in which Daniela can travel with you, or a car with driver booked separately, as Daniela does not provide a driving service.
Can you visit Vicenza as a day trip from Venice or Verona?
Yes: Vicenza is on the railway line between Venice and Verona and is easy to reach by train. With a good plan, in one day you can see the historic centre and at least one villa; cruise passengers in Venice can also arrange an excursion, carefully checking their return times.
Is the Teatro Olimpico always open to visitors?
The Teatro Olimpico may close for performances, events or works, and restoration work with a long closure to visitors has been announced for the end of 2027. That is why we always check opening days when you enquire and, if necessary, suggest an alternative.
Private enquiry
Tell us about your visit
Let us know your dates, number of people, language and interests: Daniela will reply personally with a suggested itinerary and a transparent quote. You can also write to info@giravicenza.it or on WhatsApp at +39 338 4103735, or visit the contact page.
