Palladio and Comfort in the Well-Designed House.

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.

Grants are available for participants holding a degree in architecture, art history, engineering, or in disciplines related to the conservation of cultural heritage. To be eligible, applicants must have obtained their degrees or diplomas after 2016.
The available grants cover the full enrolment fee, which will be paid directly to the Centre on behalf of selected applicants by public or private institutions, bodies, or third-party contributors.

Applicants are required to register for the course by completing the online form available at www.palladiomuseum.org/courses/Palladio (then select “Registration form”). After completing the initial section, applicants may apply for a grant in the following step by submitting a cover letter addressed to the President of the CISA Centre in Vicenza and, optionally, up to three letters of recommendation.

Participants will be selected by a committee appointed by the President of the Academic Council of the CISA.
Applicants awarded a grant are nevertheless required to pay a €100 deposit. This amount will be reimbursed at the end of the course. Please note that the grant is conditional upon full attendance: participants must attend at least 80% of the total course hours. Failure to meet this requirement will result in the Centre withholding the deposit and not issuing a certificate of completion.

The deadline to apply for a grant is: Tuesday 30 June 2026 at 00:00 pm (CEST).

www.palladiomuseum.org/courses/palladio
segreteriapalladiomuseum.org
+39 0444 323014