The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization added the northern Italian city of Vicenza to its list of world heritage sites in 1994.

The city was chosen for its cultural significance, especially the buildings designed by Andrea Palladio.

Vicenza is home to 23 buildings designed by Palladio (1508-1580), including the Villa Capra or "La Rotonda," located outside the downtown area; the Basilica Palladiana, located in the Piazza dei Signori; the Palazzo Barbaran da Porto, home of the Museo Palladio; and the Palazzo del Capitaniato, home of the town council.

Based on classical Roman architecture, Palladio's work inspired a distinct style known as Palladian, which has spread to Europe and North America

Vicenza is about 37 miles west of Venice and about 124 miles east of Milan. As of 2007, about 119,038 people lived in the city, known as the third-largest Italian industrial city.