The Basilica in Vicenza, is Palladio's first major public work, which was not completed till after his death.
His plan for remodeling the old town hall, included restructuring the exterior by buttressing the existing older structure
with a double loggia, using columns with the Doric order on the lower level and Ionic order on the upper loggia.
He extended the entablature with a railing to define the two loggias.
His use of a central arch flanked by an opening with columns repeated on the facade of the building, has become one of Palladio's hallmarks.

Palladio studied ancient architecture in Rome, which formed the basis for his own works as well as providing material for his "Four Books on Architecture",
which virtually revolutionized architecture throughout the Western world. Thomas Jefferson consulted Palladio's works extensively when he built his "Monticello".
The latter was strongly influenced by Palladio's Villa Rotonda near Vicenza.