In 1645 Count Marzio Capra, owner of the Rotonda wrote to the governor of the Serenissima Republic asking for permission to “place a church close to my abode La Rotonda and which would not exceed thirty feet in width and sixty feet in length”.

Paolo Almerico, purchaser and first owner of the villa had made clear this desire in his will: that the building designed by Palladio should be completed with a chapel to be used by the family and the neighbourhood. The small and precious private oratory was built in about 1650, in perfect axis to the road entering the villa along which was placed la “barchessa”, the portico barn planned by Vincenzo Scamozzi and so completing the Palladian project.

Girolamo Albanese, architect and sculptor, was asked to design the chapel as well as the stuccowork and statues. He was assisted by Antonio Pizzocaro who went on to become the most prolific architect in the 17th century Vicenza.

Some decades after, in the late 1700’s the Valmarana family completed villa Valmarana ai Nani as we know it today, with the architectural elements by Francesco Muttoni and the extraordinary series of frescos by Tiepolo.
The chapel became the property of Villa Valmarana ai Nani sitting in the grounds of its park. .

The chapel was, and stilli is, a sort of bridge between the two great villas of Vicenza: in front Palladio, behind, Tiepolo.

The building is antique yet furnished with all modern comforts. It is both monumental and cosy. Only a fews steps from two of the most celebrated places in the world, it is ideal to host all kinds of events.

The Capppella della Rotonda has been reborn as a versatile space, ideal in which to host precious and exclusive events.

Private dinners, business meetings, press conferences, cultural events. Product presentations, wokshops and seminars are just activities which can be appreciated the more in the setting of the Cappella della Rotonda.