68th Course on Palladian Architecture
Palladio and Comfort in the Well-Designed HouseVicenza + Veneto, 27th August - 2nd September 2026[registration open]
What was life like in a Palladian villa or palace? How were heating and cooling managed, and how did the bathrooms and kitchens work? To what extent did the choice of materials depend on sourcing and reusing them, and how were materials and construction techniques designed to enhance insulation and cooling?
One primary source of information on these topics is the Four Books, in which Palladio unfortunately only discusses building systems and orientation rather sparingly. Inventories also often provide interesting insights by describing the furnishings and objects found within the dwellings. Then, of course, there are the buildings themselves, or their original design drawings, where it is possible to trace water distribution pipes, such as at Maser, toilets, such as those along the staircases of Villa Foscari, cooling grilles on the floors of the Rotonda and Palazzo Barbarano, and washbasins and fireplaces, which can be found in all the buildings.
During visits to Palladian buildings, this year's course will highlight these aspects through practical seminars led by specialists in the field. Therefore, the 2026 course retains the traditional programme of visits to Palladio’s major works in Vicenza, Venice, and the Veneto region, preceded by morning classroom lectures. The seven-day course is open to architectural and art historians, architects, engineers and anyone interested in gaining an in-depth understanding of Palladio’s work.
Lecturers
Ilaria Abbondandolo (CISA Andrea Palladio)
Donata Battilotti (formerly Università di Udine)
Guido Beltramini (CISA Andrea Palladio)
Andreas Beyer (Universität Basel, Basilea)
Paul Davies (University of Reading)
Gianmario Guidarelli (Università degli Studi di Padova)
Johanna Heinrichs (University of Kentucky College of Design)
David Hemsoll (University of Birmingham)
Deborah Howard (University of Cambridge)
Federico Marcomini (CISA Andrea Palladio)
Francesco Marcorin (CISA Andrea Palladio)
Fernando Marías (Universidad Autónoma de Madrid)
Laura Moretti (University of St Andrews)
Carlotta Moro (University of Cambridge)
Cara Rachele (ETH Zürich)
Marlene Schwemer (Yale University)
Elena Svalduz (Università di Padova)
Vitale Zanchettin (Musei Vaticani, Roma; Università Iuav di Venezia)
Programme (draft)
Thursday, August 27
Palladio Museum, Vicenza
Welcoming remarks and distribution of materials.
Palladio e il benessere nella casa ben costruita [Guido Beltramini]
Fonti per lo studio delle residenze palladiane [Donata Battilotti]
Palladio e i materiali [Vitale Zanchettin]
The Architecture of Pleasure: Visualizing Domestic Harmony [Laura Moretti]
Architecture seminars in buildings in Vicenza [Ilaria Abbondandolo, Donata Battilotti, David Hemsoll, Francesco Marcorin, Carlotta Moro]: palazzo Barbarano e Palladio Museum, palazzo di Iseppo Porto, palazzo Thiene, logge della Basilica, loggia del Capitaniato, palazzo Chiericati, palazzo Valmarana.
Friday, August 28
Architecture seminars in buildings in Vicenza [Guido Beltramini, Francesco Marcorin]: palazzo Porto Breganze, palazzo Thiene Bonin Longare, Teatro Olimpico.
Architecture seminars in buildings [David Hemsoll]: villa Thiene a Quinto, villa Valmarana a Vigardolo, villa Godi a Lonedo di Lugo Vicentino, villa Porto a Molina di Malo.
Saturday, August 29
Architecture seminars in buildings [Johanna Heinrichs, Vitale Zanchettin]: villa Gazzotti a Bertesina, villino Pisani a Monselice, villa Pisani a Bagnolo, villa Pisani a Montagnana, villa Poiana a Poiana Maggiore.
Sunday, August 30
Architecture seminars in buildings [Paul Davies]: villa Emo a Fanzolo, villa e tempietto Barbaro a Maser, villa Cornaro a Piombino Dese, villa Almerico Capra ‘la Rotonda’ a Vicenza.
Monday, August 31
Architecture seminars in buildings [Guido Beltramini]: villa dei Vescovi a Luvignano, Odeo Cornaro a Padova.
Architecture seminars in buildings [Deborah Howard, Elena Svalduz]: villa Garzoni a Pontecasale, villa Badoer a Fratta Polesine.
Tuesday, September 1th
Architecture seminars in buildings in Venezia [Guido Beltramini, Gianmario Guidarelli]: convento della Carità, palazzo Contarini agli Scrigni, chiesa del Redentore, chiesa e convento di San Giorgio Maggiore, case multiple a Venezia, villa Foscari ‘la Malcontenta’.
Wednesday, September 2nd
Seminars on Palladio’s drawings[Guido Beltramini, Marlene Schwemer]
Seminars on books [Ilaria Abbondandolo, Andreas Beyer, Federico Marcomini, Fernando Marías, Cara Rachele]
Closing session and presentation of certificates.
Grants have been provided for participants that hold a degree in architecture, art history, engineering or in studies relating to the conservation of cultural assets. In order to qualify for such assistance applicants must have been awarded their degrees or diplomas after 2016. Application for grants to be submitted by Sunday 30th June by filling the application form.
For those who register before 5th July 2026, the enrolment fee is € 915.00 (including VAT). For later registrations the fee is € 976.00 (including VAT).
