Palazzo Fogazzaro was built in 1810 according to the project by architect Carlo Barrera (1759 – 1837), from Lugano, who, here in Schio, also designed Palazzo Garbin as well as working as a superintendent on the Duomo di San Pietro, Schio’s main church.
The Palazzo, overlooking Via Pasini, formerly Via Oltreponte and also known as “Delle Monache”, is a building in the style of Palladio with a portico and superimposed loggia; it’s located on a site previously occupied by a wool carding factory, itself property of the Fogazzaro family, and located on a historical branch of the Roggia Maestra stream.

The Fogazzaro family, originally from Staro, arrived in Schio at the start of the 18th century, opening a wool factory that quickly became very important, to the point of being included, in 1796, in the list of 25 “privileged” factories of Schio, and ultimately counting one hundred employees. The man who requested the construction of the new Palazzo, Mariano Fogazzaro, great-grandfather of the writer Antonio, had been chief magistrate in Schio in 1809, but with the events of 1815 decided to move to the quieter Padova, while his daughter and son-in-law remained in Schio.

Palazzo Fogazzaro was originally used for housing and to store wool and grains, which were also part of the family business. During the Great War it was occupied by Italian troops and then, throughout the 20th century, became the headquarters for various institutions and organisations, amongst which the Royal Commissariat and the Magistrate’s Court. Bought by the city in 1948 and renovated in 1960, it hosted various schools.

In 2010 the courtyard pavement was redone.

The restoration works of 2022-23 made it structurally more sound and included the recovery of the basement floor and the partial restoration of the Hall of Frescoes and the Venetian pavements.