About Padua
Padua claims to be the oldest city in northern Italy. According to a tradition which goes back at least to Virgil’s
Aeneid, it was founded in 1183 BC by the Trojan prince Antenor, who is believed to have led the people of Eneti, or
Veneti, from Paphlagonia (in the north of what is now Turkey) to Italy. Surrounded by the Euganean Hills and
crossed by several waterways, Padua is a city that blends historical tradition and culture with burgeoning business
and service industries. Its central position makes it perfect for reaching Venezia and its beach resorts, the
Dolomites, Lake Garda and the spa resorts of Abano and Montegrotto Terme. Padua is at the heart of north-east
Italy and is the powerhouse behind one of Europe’s largest economic and industrial areas with more than 7 million
inhabitants and 580,000 firms.
Must see places in Padua
Saint Anthony's Basilica is the best-known tourist site in Padua and is visited each year by thousands of pilgrims
who come to Padua to venerate. Built immediately after the Padua Franciscan brother, St. Anthony’s death in the
1231 to preserve and honour his remains, it houses his tomb and notable relics. The statues and crucifix on the
main altar are by Donatello, as is the statue of horse and rider in the square in front of the church.
The University of Padua was founded in 1222. The list of professors and alumni contains the names of famous
scholars and academics including Sperone Speroni, the anatomist Vesalius, Copernicus, Fallopius, Fabrizio
d'Acquapendente, Galileo Galilei, William Harvey,Pietro Pomponazzi, Reginald, later Cardinal
Pole, Scaliger, Tasso and Sobieski. The University of Padua had the first woman graduate in 1678; Elena Lucrezia
Cornaro Piscopia. The university hosts the oldest anatomy theatre, built in 1594 and the world’s oldest botanical
garden the oldest botanical garden built in 1545.
Scrovegni's Chapel is a must see for art and art history fans. Padua boasts the title of Città dell'Affresco (City of
frescoes) because of the extraordinary range of frescoed surfaces that reveal an artistic heritage from the 11thto
the 20th century. One of the main series of paintings from the 14th century is preserved in the Scrovegni
Chapel, the work of the brilliant artist Giotto. Dedicated to St. Mary of Charity, the chapel was painted between
1303 and 1305 by Giotto commissioned by Enrico degli Scrovegni, a wealthy banker from Padua, for the benefit of
his family. The narrative of the frescoes unfolds across four levels consisting of panels that represent the story of
the Virgin and Christ, while the counter façade is painted with the Last Judgement, in which the story of human
salvation concludes. The main altar is adorned with statues by Giovanni Pisano.
St. George's Oratory (Oratorio di San Giorgio). A beautiful, frescoed, and generally empty hall on the south side of
the piazza next to the Basilica di Sant'Antonio. The paintings were completed by two of Giotto's students.
Prato della Valle is the biggest square in Europe at 90.000 square meters, and probably one of the most beautiful
in the world. Historically a Roman theater and later a fairground, it was redone in 1775 to the present layout: a
large central grassy area, surrounded by a statue-lined canal, then a broad expanse of flagstones with the Santa
Giustina Basilica along one side. The square hosts a giant market on Sundays and concerts and fairs are frequently
held here. The square is a great place to sit in the evening, relaxing and watching the world go by.
Beyond Padua
Padua is located in the Veneto region which is made up of seven provinces, each of which is home to beautiful
natural scenery and internationally renowned works of art. Venice is 30-40 minutes away by train and so is within
easy reach, making it the perfect destination for a day trip or even a special night out. Once you have seen the old
city centre of Venice, you could take a trip to its stunning lagoon islands (Murano, Burano, Torcello). They are just
a short water-bus ride from the S. Zaccaria stop in St. Mark’s Square or from Fondamente Nove. The province of
Venice also has a host of coastal resorts with great beaches and nightlife.
Rovigo is another of the Veneto’s ‘cities on water’; it is the largest town in Polesine, the area at the mouth of the
river Po and one of the region’s beautiful natural parks. It is the perfect place for excursions through reed-beds,
lagoons and valli (fish-farm ponds) where you can see and photograph a wide variety of plants and more than 370
species of birds.
From the plains of the Po, we head towards the mountains: Belluno has historical palazzi and a major art gallery,
and is also a gateway to the Dolomites. This mountain range in the Eastern Alps is famed for its colours and shapes,
and is a favourite with walkers in summer and skiers in winter.
Treviso stands at the heart of the Veneto, and has a beautiful historic city centre. But the surrounding area is also
studded with gems, such as the old hilltop town of Asolo, and Possagno, which is a shrine to the Neoclassical
sculptor Antonio Canova.
Further west, Vicenza vaunts works by Andrea Palladio, one of the greatest architects of the 16th century. His style
is on display throughout the town, as well as in villas in the surounding countryside.
Verona has its Roman Arena, which is one of Italy’s most breathtaking examples of ancient Roman architecture. In
the summer, its steps are thronged with people from all over the world, who come to the opera festival held there.
Nearby, the Lake Garda, on the border between the Veneto and Lombardy, is home to yet more beautiful
landscapes and scenery.