Design
The site selected was a hilltop just outside the city of Vicenza, at the time it was the fashion to be what is called today a 'gentleman farmer', buoyed by arcadian values prosperous Italians wished to enjoy the simple life. As a single man Almerico had no need of a vast Palazzo but wished for a sophisticated Villa and this is exactly what Palladio produced for him.
Building began circa 1566 of a square building, completely symmetrical, as though an imaginary circle touched the walls of the square at any given point (illustration, right). La Rotonda refers to the central circular hall with its dome, describing the villa, as a whole, as a 'rotonda' is technically incorrect as the building is not circular but rather the intersection of a square with a cross. Each of the four facades was to have a portico with steps leading up and each of the four principal entrances was to lead via a small cabinet or corridor to the circular domed central hall. This and all other rooms were proportioned with mathematical precision according to Palladio's own rules of architecture which he ordained in the Quattro Libri dell'Architettura.
The design reflected the humanist values of renaissance architecture. In order for each room to have some sun, the design was rotated 45 degrees from each cardinal point of the compass (North-West, South-East etc.). Each of the four porticos had pediments graced by statues of classical deities. The pediments were each supported by six Ionic columns. Each portico was flanked by a single window. All principal rooms were on a second floor piano nobile.
Palladio, and also the owner, Paolo Almerico, were not to see the completion of the villa. Palladio died in 1580 and a second architect Vincenzo Scamozzi was employed by the new owners to oversee the completion. One of the major changes he made to the original plan was to modify the two story centre hall. Palladio had intended it to be covered by a high semi-circular dome but Scamozzi designed a lower dome with an oculus (intended to be open to the sky) inspired by Rome's pantheon. The dome was ultimately completed with a cupola.