Palladio, an artist said to have a good wit and way with others, was born near Padua in 1508. In 1524, he was apprenticed to a stonemason in Vicenza. Palladio was a nickname given to him by his mentor Gian Giorgio Trissino. It was Trissino who persuaded him to become an architect.
Palladio and his contemporaries were firmly convinced of the relationship between mathematics and music, believing similar harmonies could be achieved in both. Widely described as one of Italy's most striking cities, Vicenza's beauty is attributed to Palladio's works and those of his pupils. Palladio also designed villas for Venice's wealthy. He is considered North Italy's premier architect.
