Tempietto Barbaro

The Tempietto Barbaro at Maser is a late work by Andrea Palladio, commissioned by Marcantonio Barbaro around 1580. Its circular plan gives architectural form to the designer’s interest in centrally planned churches.

Why it matters

Marcantonio intended the building as a church for the community of Maser. The commission brought together an aristocratic patron’s antiquarian interests and Palladio’s ideas about sacred geometry.

What to notice

A classical temple front and dome define the compact building. The circular interior contrasts with the long naves of Palladio’s major Venetian churches. Its proportions show how the language of ancient temples could be adapted to a Christian place of worship.

Context and history

The Tempietto belongs to the final period of Palladio’s career, which ended with his death in 1580. It forms part of the architectural history associated with Villa Barbaro, commissioned earlier by Daniele and Marcantonio. Its dome and centralised interior extend that history beyond the residential villa.