Built by Andrea Palladio in 1566 approximately at the edge of the city, it is an innovative suburban villa originally intended for functions of representation, but also as a quiet retreat for meditation and study. 
It is one of the earliest examples of the application of a central plan to a private building. It consists of a square building, completely symmetrical and inscribed in a perfect circle. Each of the four identical facades has a stem with a loggia which leads to the central, circular hall, surmounted by a dome (completed by Scamozzi). Formal elements included into the set of decorations suggest a sense of sacredness. Located above the rounded summit of a small hill next to the Monte Berico, its layout is rotated 45 degrees relative to the cardinal points to allow each room a similar exposure to the sun.