Welcome to the heart of Veneto! My name is Roberta Parlato and I am a licensed tour guide for Vicenza, Verona, Padua and the splendid Palladian Villas. For over twenty years I have accompanied curious visitors in the discovery of art cities, historic palaces and masterpieces by Andrea Palladio, sharing the history and traditions of my land with passion. Every tour is a lively journey through art, culture and local life, tailored for families, groups or independent travelers. My mission is to transform historical notions into living, memorable experiences for every guest, including children.
Certified professionalism: I have been a licensed guide since 2003 and specialize in Palladian itineraries, with an in-depth academic background in art history. I have collaborated for years with architects, enthusiasts and cultural institutions, ensuring competence and reliability on every visit.
Tailor-made experiences: whether you want a classic city tour, a thematic route focused on Renaissance architecture or on local lifestyles and economy, I customize the itinerary according to your interests and timing. With me, you can experience authentic Veneto, from famous monuments to hidden gems.
Passion and engagement: I love my job and I convey enthusiasm, curiosity and anecdotes. My explanations are clear and captivating, designed to engage both experts and newcomers. Art, history and culture come to life, creating memories that last.
Reliability and recognition: my research on Palladio’s Villa Saraceno received an award from the Accademia Olimpica of Vicenza and I boast excellent reviews on travel forums. The satisfaction of my clients is the best guarantee of my tours’ quality.
Discover my guided tours: here are some itineraries you can book to explore the area with an expert guide:
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Villa Godi
Villa Godi was the first villa designed by Palladio, in around 1537, and his first step in the creation of a new type of residential building for the countryside. The young architect was still deeply influenced by the local vernacular tradition. A guided tour of Villa Godi focuses on both aspects of Palladio’s creation: tradition…
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Villa Pisani at Bagnolo di Lonigo
Villa Pisani at Bagnolo di Lonigo was designed by Palladio in the first half of the 1540s. It marked a turning point in Palladio’s career: for the first time his clients were important members of the Venetian aristocracy and this maybe explains its architectural novelty. A guided tour of Villa Pisani focuses on the high…
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Villa Gazzotti at Bertesina
Villa Gazzotti at Bertesina was designed by Palladio in 1542 and it’s a good example of his early style. Apparently, it is just a simple building, but actually was the result of a significant innovation, especially in regard to the central section of its facade, with its set of three arches surmounted by a pediment.…
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Villa Valmarana Bressan at Vigardolo
Villa Valmarana Bressan at Vigardolo is an early Palladio work, designed in around 1542. Its extremely simple exterior finds its focal point in the “serliana” of its front, with a central arched opening flanked by two rectangular ones, separated by columns. This architectural motif was probably used by Palladio for the first time at Vigardolo…
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Villa Caldogno
Villa Caldogno was designed by Palladio in the early 1540s for the noblemen Losco Caldogno, from Vicenza. Like all the villas designed by Palladio in the first stage of his career, has no columns, but the design of its exterior was a great innovation for the age. A guided tour of Villa Caldogno features its…
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Villa Thiene at Quinto Vicentino
Villa Thiene at Quinto Vicentino dates back to the first stage of Palladio’s career and some scholars believe that he actually developed a plan already prepared by the architect Giulio Romano for the family Thiene. What we see today is just a small fragment of the entire project, but still large enough to be the…
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Villa Pojana
Villa Pojana was designed by Palladio at the end of the 1540s, but its abstract and almost metaphysical front is actually timeless. The building is an incredible combination of sophisticated design and low-cost construction. A guided tour of Villa Pojana focuses on the antique sources of Palladio’s inspiration, as well as the building techniques Palladio…
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Villa Cornaro
Villa Cornaro was designed by Palladio in 1552 for the Venetian nobleman Giorgio Cornaro. It is one of Palladio’s most regarded creations thanks to its projecting two-story portico, which has been one of the most influential motifs in western architecture throughout the centuries, especially in English-speaking countries. The character of the villa is remarkably different…
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Villa Pisani at Montagnana
Villa Pisani at Montagnana was designed by Palladio for Francesco Pisani in 1552. Together with the almost contemporary Villa Cornaro at Piombino Dese, Villa Pisani marked a turning point in the history of architecture thanks to its two-story loggia, surmounted by a pediment. In fact, this special loggia has become an iconic worldwide architectural motif.…
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Villa Barbaro
Villa Barbaro was designed by Palladio in the first half of the 1550s for two brothers, Daniele and Marcantonio Barbaro, cultivated members of the Venetian upper class. Thanks to their artistic and architectural culture, the brothers had their own well-defined tastes and this may explain the differences between these and other villas designed by Palladio.…
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Villa Badoer at Fratta Polesine
Villa Badoer at Fratta Polesine was designed in 1554 for the nobleman Francesco Badoer, as the pivot of his vast agricultural estate. It’s not a popular destination because of its location, quite far from the other famous villas designed by Palladio, but it is absolutely worth a visit and it could be conveniently included in…
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Villa Foscari known as “la Malcontenta”
Villa Foscari known as “la Malcontenta” was designed by Palladio for Nicolò and Alvise Foscari in around 1555. More than a villa-farm, it is a suburban residence which takes advantage of its extraordinary location, on the riverside of the Brenta, not far from the Venetian lagoon. It appears like a majestic isolated block, recalling an…
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Villa Emo
Villa Emo is one of Palladio’s best achievements, probably the most representative of his villas. He designed it towards the end of the 1550s for an affluent Venetian family, owners of a vast country estate where the main crop just arrived from America. The villa was the centre of a working farm and Palladio was…
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The Barchessa of Villa Trissino at Sarego
The Barchessa of Villa Trissino at Sarego is the agricultural section of a villa whose main block was never built and the imposing building with a porch and a dovecot tower was built near the existing 15th-century gothic house The lower floor of the tower holds an elegant vaulted room decorated with very refined frescos,…
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Villa Rotonda
The Villa Rotonda is the masterpiece of Palladio’s maturity, designed in 1566 for Paolo Americo, who had moved back to Vicenza after a brilliant ecclesiastical career in the Vatican. Consequently, the villa was built as a suburban residence rather then a villa-farm and originally there were no agricultural annexes. It was already inhabitable a few…
- Vicenza – Historic Center Tour: a stroll among the most picturesque squares and streets of Vicenza, a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1994.
- Palladian Vicenza – Architectural Itinerary: a visit dedicated to Andrea Palladio’s masterpieces in the city—from the Teatro Olimpico to the Basilica Palladiana to Palazzo Chiericati—ideal for architecture lovers.
- Tour of the Palladian Villas: a route through the marvelous Venetian villas designed by Palladio (such as Villa La Rotonda and Villa Emo), nestled in the countryside and protected by UNESCO.
- Verona: a great city that interests every visitor—certainly the most important in Northern Italy for those wishing to understand ancient Roman architecture. The Roman Arena and other major ruins blend with picturesque medieval buildings and views along the Adige River (UNESCO site since 2000).
- Padua – Art and Spirituality: a guided visit to Padua, from the majestic Basilica of Saint Anthony to Giotto’s frescoes in the Scrovegni Chapel (included in the UNESCO list in 2021).
Every itinerary can be adapted to your needs: contact me to create your ideal experience together. Let yourself be guided among the wonders of Veneto—book your personalized guided tour now and get ready to live an unforgettable adventure!