Wednesday, 6 October. We got up at 8:00 and packed up for our move to Vicenza. We had breakfast at Rosa's. Afterward, Emanuele came by, and about 10:15 Marco, Federica and little Andrea. We finally left Verona about 11:30.

We arrived at Elfi Ditore's lovely home in Rettorgole (outside Vicenza) about 12:30. Elfi had a big dinner ready for us. We talked and relaxed until 4:30 when Elfi drove us into the old center of Vicenza, site of nearly 100 medieval palaces. Vicenza was the home of the famous architect Palladio (1508-1580). Probably his greatest masterpiece, the Palazzo della Ragione (usually called "The Basilica," though it's a meeting hall, not a church), is the main feature of the Piazza dei Signori, the main square. Palladio spent much of his life designing this building, and it wasn't completed until 1614, 34 years after his death. A lofty 12th Century clock tower stands at the left end of the Basilica. 

Further down the square, we saw the Loggia del Capitanio, former residence of the Venetian military governors. We strolled down the shopping streets, and past the Palazzo Barbaran da Porto (Palladio 1571) and many other old mansions. We tried to see the Teatro Olympico (also by Palladio), which we'd last seen nearly 40 years ago, but it was closed.

Elfi then took us to the home of her daughter, Sonia, where we visited until 8:15. Sonia's children, Valentin and Filipe, are teenagers and so grown up! Even though Sonia had no warning we were coming, it was a very pleasant visit. Afterward we took Elfi to a pizzeria for supper. We were home by 10:00. Unfortunately, Jane was getting a sore throat.

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