GLORIA:We boarded a small bus (except for Gail and Richard who were off exploring Verona) for an all-day tour to several of Palladio's buildings in this area.Our very knowledgeable guide, Roberta, was an expert in this subject and did her thesis on the frescoes in Villa Saraceno. First stop was Villa Valmarana, c. 1566, a large house encircled by a 1688 wall, topped by many figures of dwarfs.And why?Roberta told us the story: the owner of the Villa had a daugh...

GLENNA: Today we wake up to a lovely sunny, hot day. This morning, the villa is lovely, baking in the warmth of the sun, the bricks on the outbuildings a lovely mellow light terracotta colour. We all make our own breakfast--eggs, toast, fruit, yogurt, and tea or strong Italian coffee. We head off in a convoy of three cars to Vicenza, the town Palladio made his home for most of his adult life, and which contains many of his fine buildings. Vicenza is about 15 mi...

GLORIA: Arrival at our home for the next 8 days, Villa Saraceno, in the small village of Finale di Argugliaro, was an awesome sight.A splendid early example of Andrea Palladio's architecture, it was built about 1545 in a grand manner.Palladio (1508-1580) was inspired by Roman prototypes to design buildings both for pleasure and for a working farm.They were always symmetrical, utilizing arches and columns. Saraceno stands on about 50 acres of land, surrounded ...