Come with me and see the unexpected treasures inside Vicenza’s Diocesan Museum inside the Palazzo Vescovile (Bishop’s Palace).

It’s located in Piazza del Duomo (Cathedral Square), in the heart of the city, and overlooks this lovely square with a green area in the middle, statue and cedar tree completing the scene.

On display, you’ll find works of sacred art and objects from local churches, various exhibits of sacred art and other objects spanning the history of the church in Vicenza since Roman times.

The pieces are elegantly curated inside with descriptions in Italian and English and if you’re keen to know more, there is a team of volunteer guides who are happy to show you around and help bring to life what’s on show.

You are welcomed by this fabulous and large egg sculpture made of smooth and shiny granite. This marks the entrance and from here on the right you have the ticket office and on the left you can start your visit.

1) Ex-voto

These beautiful items were either offered to the church in recognition of help or blessings received through prayer or religious intervention. They are detailed objects representing a part of the body, a small child, a farm animal- that maybe got sick and was saved through prayer.

2) Liturgical Paraments

This means the particular precious clothes and highly-decorated times used during religious worship. These examples in darkened glass cases to protect them are incredibly rich in colour and design.

3) Romanian and Transylvanian Icons

Unlike the Russian icons which we saw in our visit to Palazzo Montanari, which were painted on wood, these are created on shiny glass in saturated pop art colours like bright pink, red and green.

4) English Sculpture

This piece of beautifully intricate English sculpture from the 15th century had to be in my top ten. This one represents The Last Supper. It’s made of smooth alabaster and is incredibly detailed- you can see the expressions on the Apsotles and even the bread and fish set out on the table.

5) The Collection of Spheres

407 spheres make up the collection created by the former bishop of Vicenza,
Mons. Noris. They’re of natural materials like marble, quartz and fossil stones in many
more shades of colours than you can imagine. Although this collection might seem out of place inside a museum of sacred art, I imagine for the collector himself that these spheres and their beauty represent the natural world of his Creator.

6) Parrot Cope (Piviale dei Pappagalli)

Yes, it’s a cope not a cape. It’s a new word for me too, and means a type of full-length and loose cloak that closes at the front with a metal clip. Like the Romans used to wear,

This one was made in 13th century Sicily and is decorated with of gold thread creating a pattern of parrots on red silk.

Apparently, and I use that word because there are various legends roaming around, this was a gift from King Louis IX of France to the bishop of Vicenza, Bartolomeo of Breganze.

Another curiosity about this cope is that it stars in a recent RAI television fiction series based on the life and loves of a paleontologist at the University of Verona who comes to Vicenza and to this museum in particular to find out more about the people behind the parrot motif, which in the series is interpreted as a bird of prey.

A whole story is woven around the present-day academics and historical characters as the plot shifts from the past to the present and back again and unites us with people who lived hundreds of years ago.

And I have to say, seeing your town and other familiar places on your screen at home is something special.

7) Illuminated Manuscripts

I adore everything concerning books, words, calligraphy and illustration so this room is one of my favourites.

You will marvel at the beauty and precision of these books containing music and chants for use during religious services as well as the calendar of the saints’ days.

8) The Reliquary of the Holy Thorn

Besides the cope we saw before, The tiny piece of the holy thorn given to Bishop Bartolomeo of Breganze also received a tiny thorn from the Holy Crown of Thorn Louis IX of France for his help during the Crusades. It is kept inside this fancy container decorated with precious metals on display all year except for Easter week when it returns to its original site of the Church of Santa Corona.

9) The Bishop’s Slippers

So far on this visit we’ve seen some very elaborate clothes, and now we’ve got the humble slipper which has been elevated with embroidered decorations on silk.

10) Gothic Fresco

Part of a 15th century fresco showing two people looking out over a loggia. I love the muted colours and I love the curiosity this painting arouses: What are they looking at? What’s going on?