A Weekend of Thermal Baths and Culture

Taking advantage of a weekend at the spa that someone had given us as a gift, we decided to use it to coincide with the "Raphael towards Picasso" exhibition in Vicenza, so we set off on Saturday morning for Abano Terme. On arrival at the Hotel Terme Internazionale we checked in and then set off on foot to explore the spa town. Despite its small size, simply walking along the Viale delle Terme you can admire buildings and areas worth noticing; the most interesting is the Piazza del Sole e della Luna, known as the Piazza della Meridiana thanks to one of the largest sundials/clocks in Europe, formed by 3000 square metres of polychrome marble. After a light lunch it was time to relax at the spa until dinner, and after a stroll along the pedestrian streets with the shops closed because it was out of season, we went to bed. On Sunday, after a 30-40 minute drive, we arrived in Vicenza.

The car park right by the centre was still fairly empty at 10.30, so after leaving the car we began to stroll through the city of Palladio. Every monument worthy of the name was either built or designed by Palladio, who tied this little town to his own name forever. We began with a visit to the Teatro Olimpico and happened to arrive right at the start of the light and sound show, which made this architectural jewel even more astonishing. Then a walk along Corso Palladio and the central alleys, as far as Piazza dei Signori with the imposing Basilica Palladiana, recently restored and home to the exhibition. After a typical lunch based on baccalà, we entered the exhibition at our booked time slot and, once the visit was over, we set off back home. A peaceful weekend in an area that has caught our interest and that will certainly see us again. Ilaria