does anyone have any suggestions for making the most of a trip to Vicenza?
I'll give it a shot but you need to be more specific.
Besides the city center be sure to check out La Rotonda and Villa Valimerena ( not sure if I spelt that right, but the House of Dwarves). Both are within walking distance of each other.
At the risk of sounding flip, I suggest you buy a couple of guidebooks that cover Vicenza, read up on what the town has to offer, and decide what interests you most. The RS Italy book includes it, I'm pretty sure. You'll get a much wider idea of your options than responses on a bulletin board. Happy travels.